Effects of surgical lubricants on semen analysis

The effects of a number of commercially available surgical lubricants on the motility of spermatozoa with time, have been examined with the aim of recommending a non-toxic, water soluble aid which was not visibly detrimental to spermatozoa following collection of semen for routine analysis. The results have shown that motility is impaired at concentrations above 5%, but that below this level of contamination, spermatozoal motility, and progression, as objectively determined by multiple exposure photography, was unaffected. For various practical reasons, and because it is well known, K-Y Jelly, packaged as a single sachet, is probably the lubricant of choice.