FAQ - trying to conceive and lubricant

Couples who trying to conceive are often unsure which lubricant they can use in good conscience without affecting the likelihood of conception. Here are the answers to some questions.

This question has to be answered by the users themselves. Some people need more, while some people need less lubricant. In various international studies, it has been estimated that most couples use about 3 ml of lubricant to compensate for a lack of vaginal lubrication.

The Ritex Kinderwunsch lubricant applicators have a filling volume of 4 ml, to produce a pleasant moistening even when more lubricant is required. Using too much Ritex Kinderwunsch lubricant does not have a negative effect on the sperm or sperm function, but just creates an “extraodinary feeling of moisture” during intercourse.

Please note that the Ritex Kinderwunsch lubricant applicators are only intended for single use, as they are contaminated with germs in the environment during use. Please dispose of the applicators and any remaining lubricant after use.

The Ritex Kinderwunsch lubricant is effective immediately after use. The effect is maintained over a longer period of time and is only reduced in that additional moisture (as well as present natural vaginal lubrication) is secreted over time. The lubricant is largely washed out with the so-called “back flow” (i.e. the excess vaginal secretion and ejaculate) after sexual intercourse.

The Ritex Kinderwunsch lubricant is neutral and has no influence on the vaginal pH value. It consists of Dimeticon Ph. Eur. (European Pharmacopoeia) and therefore belongs to the general range of silicone oils. Its composition allows a very high degree of human compatibility (especially with regard to sperm-friendliness), as it contains no additives which could have an irritating effect on bodily functions.

For sperm, the optimal pH is in the neutral to alkaline range (about 7.2-8.5). However the “normal” vaginal pH value is very acidic (approx. 4). The acidic environment serves as a natural protection against bacteria in the vagina, but also kills sperm. During fertile days, however, the vaginal pH value increases to approx. 7 so that the sperm can survive on the way into the fallopian tubes.

However, most commercially available lubricants are adapted to the vaginal pH value during non-fertile days. This environment hinders sperm and means that those types of lubricants are not suitable for when trying to conceive. If you are not sure whether your chosen lubricant is suitable for when trying to conceive, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Sperm are intended by nature to survive and move quickly into the cervical mucus for some time on fertile days. A change in this environment usually has a negative effect on the sperm.

  • If the viscosity (thickness) of the environment changes, i.e. it becomes not viscous enough or too viscous, the movement of the sperm is no longer efficient: in the first case, the sperm consume too much energy because they start to “wriggle”; in the second case, they consume too much energy because they can only move with difficulty.
  • If the pH value of the environment changes, if it becomes to acidic (e.g. due to a standard intimate lubricant) or too alkaline (e.g. due to products containing soap), the sperm become inactive or die.
  • If the osmolality of the environment changes beyond a certain limit, the sperm become inactive (i.e. they no longer move) or they die. The extent of environmental osmolality can be influenced by a large number of substances.
  • In addition, there are very many substances (in particular preservatives) which can have a damaging effect on sperm. Even saliva damages sperm to a great extent; enzymatic reactions in the saliva seem to be the triggers for this.
  • Last but not least, it must be noted that there are substances and substance combinations that have a hormone-like effect on sperm: for some substances, such a suspicion was anticipated (e.g. with certain parabens), but for some substances the effect was surprising (e.g. with bourgeonal “artificial lily of the valley fragrance”). The latter example shows that the range of substance mixtures with a hormone-like effect is very large; it is probably so extensive that it can never be explored in its entirety.

 

If you are not sure whether your chosen lubricant is suitable for when trying to conceive, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

A clear “yes and no”. It is proven that even intimate lubricants can damage sperm and prevent them from reaching the uterus. This is often due to a too low pH value; not infrequently, sperm-damaging ingredients or incorrect osmolality of the lubricant can also cause the sperm cells to die before reaching their target. It has also recently been shown that there is a large number of hormone-like substances that reduce or even block the effect of the “ovum finding substance” progesterone on the sperm (correspondingly, the likelihood that the sperm will find the ovum decreases). Such substances can also be present in lubricants. In short: the negative influence of lubricants on sperm or on sperm function can be very different – from rather weak to very strong.

After almost three years of collaboration, Ritex has brought the Ritex Kinderwunsch lubricant to the market, which maintains the pH value of the vaginal mucosa during fertile days and other important parameters of the natural environment for sperm to allow them to move well. The product was tested by Ritex in the “Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology” at the University Hospital Münster (UKM).

The UKM has examined Ritex Kinderwunsch lubricant with regard to the following criteria:

  • Sperm vitality (proportion of living sperm)   
  • Sperm motility (the sperm’s ability to move)
  • Sperm morphology (external appearance of the sperm. Changes in the morphology can, for example, lead to limitation of sperm movement)
  • Degree of DNA fragmentation of the sperm (damage to the genetic material of the sperm)
  • Influence on the natural hormone effect on the sperm (especially progesterone)

 

Results: Ritex KINDERWUNSCH Conception Lubricant obtains optimally the conditions to become pregnant.

No. Even though the overwhelming majority of conventional lubricants may affect the probability of conception to a lesser or greater extent, a contraceptive effect should not be assumed unless the manufacturer expressly states this.

There are many reasons why you might not conceive as quickly as hoped: at one end is the statistical randomness, which means that it simply takes longer. At the other end, there are serious medical/metabolic problems, which can only be overcome with the help of specialist doctors. As with all other methods and approaches, Ritex Kinderwunsch lubricant can only make a positive contribution to certain aspects in order to increase the probability of conception.

The medical purpose of Ritex Kinderwunsch lubricant is to compensate for the problem of a lack of vaginal lubrication, which can arise particularly due to the stress caused by an unfulfilled desire to have children. On the one hand, the lack of vaginal lubrication makes sexual intercourse uncomfortable for both partners and it reduces the likelihood of reaching orgasm, particularly for the woman. Although no compelling connection between the female orgasm and the probability of conception has yet been demonstrated, there are many indications that orgasm makes a positive contribution (e.g. when the uterus contracts, the sperm are “pumped” towards the fallopian tubes and a veritable cocktail of sex hormones are released, which flood the sperm’s environment).

Above all, by compensating for the lack of vaginal lubrication, the sensitive vaginal mucous membranes are prevented from being injured during sexual intercourse. Thus subsequent infections are avoided, which can cause complications in the event of successful conception and even lead to the termination of the pregnancy.

Unfortunately, this question cannot be answered on a general basis since it depends on the individual circumstances of each individual case. However, the Ritex Kinderwunsch lubricant can be used as often as you like.

When used as intended, no undesirable side effects are known for Ritex Kinderwunsch lubricant.