Because Family Is Important
FAQ's - THE PRODUCT EXPLAINED
Click on the questions for answers to some questions you may have about the Sasmar Conceive Plus™.
Why
is Sasmar Conceive Plus™ being attacked by a competitor?
Is Pre Conceive Plus (Pre-Conceive Plus) the same as Sasmar's Conceive Plus?
Why
do some lubricants harm chances of conception and pregnancy?
Isn’t
Glycerol naturally present in human cervical fluid?
What
is the importance of calcium and magnesium ions?
What
is the pH of Sasmar Conceive Plus™?
What
is the osmolarity of Sasmar Conceive Plus™?
Does
Sasmar Conceive Plus™ contain any surfactants, like Pluronic?
Does
the formula contain any substances from larch tree bark, such
as arabinogalactan?
Does
Sasmar Conceive Plus™ contain any harmful acidic polymers?
Is
Sasmar Conceive Plus™ safe for sperm and embryo development?
Is
Sasmar Conceive Plus™ the only commercially available sperm-safe
lubricant?
Important
note to all our readers
QUESTION:
Why is Sasmar Conceive Plus™ being attacked by a competitor?
ANSWER:
See our response here: "Pre~Seed
attacks Conceive Plus"
The inventor of Pre~Seed continues to make false claims against
Sasmar Conceive Plus with "self funded" "scientific
studies" that show our product negatively. We are not sure what
formula is being used in these studies but it is not one produced
and released by us. We can only assume that the motive of this
anti-competitive behavior is the increasing loss of sales, as
Sasmar Conceive Plus expands distribution around the world taking
their market share.
The Conceive Plus formulation is scientifically proven, safe and in our studies (both internal and external) produce results that are far superior to all products produced by the competition. We could release damaging data (some is publically avaiable if you search for it) about this particular competitor, but we choose not to. Maybe that will change in the future.
QUESTION:
Is Pre Conceive Plus (Pre-Conceive Plus) the same as Sasmar Conceive Plus?
ANSWER:
NO. The formulation of "Pre Conceive Plus" is NOT the same as Sasmar Conceive Plus. The product previously sold in the USA under the name Pre-Conceive Plus was not manufactured by SASMAR and the formula of the two products are different, the pH is different and the Osmolarity is also different. There should be no confusion between Pre Conceive Plus and Sasmar Conceive Plus.
So what is the story with the rights to Pre-Conceive Plus? - There was a legal battle about confidentiality between the manufacturers of Pre Conceive Plus and pre-seed (ING Fertility). The legal battle ended with this manufacturer of Pre-Conceive Plus giving pre-seed the rights over stock of Pre Conceive Plus (NOT SASMAR CONCEIVE PLUS). The owners of SASMAR have never met or had any correspondence with the manufacturers of Pre-Conceive Plus.
Sasmar Conceive Plus should not be confused with pre-seed, pre', Pre Conceive Plus or any other product.
Important note: The owners of pre-seed publish false and misleading information about Sasmar Conceive Plus with self funded "scientific studies" (unethical?) to scare consumers into thinking that pre~seed is the only personal lubricant that is safe to use. Sasmar Conceive Plus is scientifically proven, developed by scientists (Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Emmanuel College Boston, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami) with studies published by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.
QUESTION:
Why do some lubricants harm chances of conception and pregnancy? How does Sasmar Conceive Plus™ help one’s path to pregnancy?
ANSWER:
A number of clinical studies have shown that commercially available contraceptive Personal lubricants are spermicidal (harmful to human sperm) (see references below). Such personal lubricants harm sperm viability and/or motility, thereby decreasing or eliminating the chances of conception and, thus, pregnancy. Sasmar Conceive Plus™ is very different. It has been scientifically formulated to not harm sperm viability or function, thereby improving your chances of conception or pregnancy.
Selected Scientific References:
Tagatz GE, Okagake T, Sciarra JJ. The effect of
vaginal lubricants on sperm motility and viability in vitro. Am.
J. Obstet. Gynecol. 1972; 113:88.
Goldenberg RL, White R. The effect of vaginal lubricants on sperm
motility in vitro, Fertil Steril, 1975; 26:872.
Monard S, Vaginal contraception: mechanical or chemical? NPN Med.
1983 May 2;3(50):591.
Tulandi T, Plouffe L Jr, McInnes RA. Effect of saliva on sperm
motility and activity. Fertil and Steril, 1982; 38: 721.
Tulandi T, McInnes RA. Vaginal lubricants: effect of glycerin
and egg white on sperm motility and progression in vitro. Fertil
Steril, 1984; 41:151.
S P Boyers, M D Corrales, G Huszar, A H DeCherney, The effects
of Lubrin on sperm motility in vitro, Fertil Steril 1987; 47(5):882.
Frishman GN, Luciano AA, Maier DB. Evaluation of Astroglide,*
a new vaginal lubricant: effects of length of exposure and concentration
on sperm motility, Fertil and Steril, 1992; 58: 630.
Anderson L., Lewis S.E.M., McClure N. The effects of coital lubricants
on sperm motility in vivo, Human Reproduction, 1998; 13(12): 3351.
Kutleh W.H., Chao-Huai Chao M.S., Rjtter J.O., Byrd W. Vaginal
lubricants for the infertile couple: effect on sperm activity.
International Journal of Fertility, 1996; 41: 400.
Miller B, Klein TA, Opsahl MS. The effect of surgical lubricant
on in vivo sperm penetration of cervical mucus, Fertil Steril
1994; 6:1171.
Agarwal A, Deepinder F, Cocuzza M, Short RA, Evenson DP, Effect
of vaginal lubricants on sperm motility and chromatin integrity:
a prospective comparative study, Fertil Steril. 2008 Feb;89:375.
Kutteh, W.H., Lockton, J.M., Williams, L.J., Ke, R.W, A novel
Fertility Friendly Lubricant for the Infertile Couple. Obstetrics
and Gynecology 2008, 111: 20S.
Kutteh, W.H., Collins,B, Ke, R.W., Williams, L.J., ConceivEase
Fertility Friendly Lubricant is Superior to other commercial lubricants
in preserving Sperm Motility and Sperm Progressive Motility over
72 hours. Fertility and Sterility 2008, 90, S324.
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QUESTION:
Isn’t Glycerol naturally present in human cervical fluid and isn't it harmful to sperm?
ANSWER:
Glycerol is a natural ingredient of human cervical fluid (see
Huggins et al. 1976, Preti et al. 1979, Huggins et al. 1981, Owen
et al. 1999 below). In fact, studies have shown that the amount
of glycerol in cervical fluid increases during sexual excitement
(Preti et al. 1979). This increase in glycerol has been postulated
to be responsible for the lubricating quality of this fertile
cervical fluid and may be biologically relevant during the early
phase of reproductive events (Huggins et al. 1981). Sasmar Conceive
Plus™ contains small amounts of glycerol in order to better mimic
the natural fertile cervical fluids.
Glycerol is also a source of energy and is naturally present in
our body. Glycerol also preserves cells and has been extensively
used in cryopreservation of human sperm and eggs. Because of its
exceptional cryopreservation properties, glycerol has ben extensively
studied for its effects on the viability and function of many
human cells and tissue. It is currently one of the most commonly
and extensively used cryoprotectant.
There are several scientific studies showing that small amount
of glycerol (which is naturally present in human cervical mucus,
as described above) has no negative impact on sperm viability
and function. For example, a widely cited study by Tulandi et
al. showed that addition of glycerol to human semen at concentrations
as high as 2% of semen had no significant affect sperm function
(see Figure 1). Similarly, another study by Goldenberg et al.
showed that glycerol had no significant effect on human sperm
motility, whereas other known spermicidal lubricants (such as
K-Y, Lubifax and Ortho-Gynol) completely immobilized the human
sperm. Yet another scientific study, by Critser et al., showed
that presence of glycerol at concentrations as high as 5% and
had no significant effect on human sperm motility even after 24h
of incubation (see Figure 2).
Figure 1. Effect of glycerol on Sperm Motility and Progression (adapted from Tulandi et al, 1984). It clearly shows that addition of glycerol to human semen at concentrations as high as 2% of semen has no significant affect on sperm function.
Figure 2. Effect of glycerol on Sperm Motility (adapted from Crister et al, 1988). It clearly shows that incubation of human sperm with concentrations of glycerol as high as 5% has no significant affect on sperm function, even after 24h of incubation. (0% is control)
Selected Scientific References:
Tulandi T, McInnes RA. Vaginal lubricants: effect of glycerin
and egg white on sperm motility and progression in vitro. Fertil
Steril, 1984; 41:151.
Goldenberg RL, White R. The effect of vaginal lubricants on sperm
motility in vitro, Fertil
Steril, 1975; 26:872. Huggins G and Preti G, Volatile c onstituents
of human vaginal secretions, Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1976 Sep 1;126(1):129-36.
Preti G, Huggins G and Silverberg G, Alterations in the organic
compounds of vaginal secretions caused by sexual arousal, Fertil
Steril 1979;32:47–54.
Huggins G and Preti G, Vaginal odors and secretions, Clinical
Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1981; 24; 355-377.
Critser JK, Huse-Benda AR, Aaker DV, Arneson BW, Ball GD. Cryopreservation
of human spermatozoa. III. The effect of cryoprotectants on motility.
Fertil Steril. 1988 Aug;50(2):314.
Owen D and Katz D, A vaginal fluid simulant, Contraception, 1999
Feb;59(2):91-5.
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QUESTION:
What is the importance of calcium and magnesium ions?
ANSWER:
Calcium and Magnesium ions are naturally present in all bodily
fluids and cells, including in human semen and in cervical fluids,
as illustrated in several scientific studies, some of which are
referenced below. Presence of calcium in human semen was shown
as early as 1942 in a landmark study by Huggins et al. Calcium
and magnesium are critically important for the viability and function
of sperm and eggs. For example, a scientific study with 143 men
by Adamopoulos et al. showed that, “Ca concentration in asthenozoospermic
and oligozoospermic patients was lower than in normozoospermic
men and was positively correlated with Mg concentration irrespectively
of seminal quality or the presence of infection”. Similarly, sperm
also has an absolute requirement for calcium ions in order to
undergo acrosome reaction in preparation for egg fertilization
(see Evans et al. review).
Sasmar Conceive Plus™ is the ONLY formulation that contains these
important ingredients.
External Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_in_biology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesium_in_biology
Selected Scientific References:
Huggins C, Scott WW, and J Heinen JH, CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF
HUMAN SEMEN AND OF THE SECRETIONS OF THE PROSTATE AND SEMINAL
VESICLES Am J Physiol 136: 467-473, 1942.
Adamopoulos DA, Deliyiannis V. Seminal plasma magnesium, calcium
and inorganic phosphate concentration in normozoospermic and subfertile
men. Andrologia. 1983; 15: 648.
Sorensen M.B., Bergdahl I.A., Hjollund N.H.I., Bonde J.P.E., Stoltenberg
M., Ernst E. Zinc, magnesium and calcium in human seminal fluid:
relations to other semen parameters and fertility. Molecular Human
Reproduction. 1999; 5(4): 331.
Deger O., Akkus I. Semen magnesium levels in fertile and infertile
subjects. Magnesium. 1988; 7(1): 6.
Borland R.M., Hazra S., Biggers J.D., Lechene C.P. The elemental
composition of the environments of the gametes and preimplantation
embryo during the initiation of pregnancy. Biology of Reproduction.
1977; 16: 147.
Owen D and Katz D, A vaginal fluid simulant, Contraception, 1999
Feb;59(2):91-5.
Owen D and Katz D, A review of the physical and chemical properties
of human semen and the formulation of a semen simulant. J Androl.
2005 Jul-Aug;26(4):459-69.
Homonnai ZT, Paz G, Weiss JN, David MP. Quality of semen obtained
from 627 fertile men. Int J Androl. 1980; 3: 217.
Arver S, Sjoberg HE. Ionized calcium in human seminal plasma.
Scand J Clin Lab Invest. 1983; 43(suppl): 123.
Theophanides T, Anastassopoulou J (eds). Magnesium: current status
and recent developments, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1997, Netherlands.
G. Wagner and R.J. Levin, Vaginal fluid. In: E.S.E. Hafez and
T.N. Evans Editors, The Human Vagina Elsevier/North-Holland, New
York (1978), pp. 121.
G. Wagner and R.J. Levin, Electrolytes in vaginal fluid during
the menstrual cycle of coitally active and inactive women. J Reprod
Fertil 60 (1980), pp. 17.
H.E. Mende, H. Spitzbart, V. Sieke and C. Vogel, Sodium, potassium,
magnesium and calcium in vaginal content. Zentralbl Gynakol 112
(1990), pp. 1175.
Evans JP, Florman HM. The state of the union: the cell biology
of fertilization. Nat Cell Biol. 2002 Oct;4 Suppl:s57.
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QUESTION:
What is the pH of Sasmar Conceive Plus™?
ANSWER:
The pH of Sasmar Conceive Plus™ is 7.5. To survive and function, human sperm requires an environment that contains certain electrolytes and is within a narrow range of pH, osmolality and tonicity. The World Health Organisation (see references below) has reported that the optimal condition for sperm survival and migration in the cervical mucus requires a pH in the range of 7.0 to 8.5 and an isotonic solution. Sasmar Conceive Plus™ is carefully formulated so that both pH and osmolality are at levels which are safe for sperm.
Selected Scientific References:
WHO Laboratory Manual for the examination of human Semen and Sperm-Cervical
mucus interaction (1999), 4th Edition. Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge, UK.
Mortimer D. Practical Laboratory Andrology (1994). Oxford University
Press, NY.
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QUESTION:
What is the osmolarity of Sasmar Conceive Plus™?
ANSWER:
The osmolarity of Sasmar Conceive Plus™ is close to 357mOsmol/L.
Sasmar Conceive Plus™ is designed to be within the measured physiologic
osmolarity range of 290-423mOsmol/L that is optimal for sperm
survival and migration in the cervical mucus (see Owen et al.
below). As described above, in order to survive and function,
human sperm requires an environment that contains certain electrolytes
and is within a narrow range of pH, osmolality and tonicity. There
is considerable debate in literature, and little agreement among
physicians and scientists, about the exact osmolarity range for
human semen, cervical fluid and the environment that is optimal
for conception and fertility in humans.
Among many published scientific reports, a widely cited study
by Anderson et al. see below), comparing measured osmolality of
various lubricant solutions and the effect of each of these lubricant
solutions on human sperm motility, showed that a lubricant solution
with osmolarity of 422 ± 4.1 mosmol/L was not harmful to sperm,
whereas a different lubricant solution with much lower osmolality
of 298 ± 8.8 mosmol/L) was harmful. A prediction based on merely
measuring the osmolality of these two solutions would have lead
to an exactly opposite result! It is also important to mention
that experiments by Anderson et al. were performed under conditions
mimicking in vivo coital conditions, where it is known that the
total time of contact between sperm and lubricant typically lasts
between 5-30 min, after which time most of the seminal fluid is
discarded in backflow.
Selected Scientific Reference:
Owen D and Katz D, A review of the physical and chemical properties
of human semen and the formulation of a semen simulant. J Androl.
2005 Jul-Aug;26(4):459-69. Anderson L., Lewis S.E.M., McClure
N. The effects of coital lubricants on sperm motility in vivo,
Human Reproduction, 1998; 13(12): 3351.
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QUESTION:
Does Sasmar Conceive Plus™ contain any surfactants, like Pluronic?
ANSWER:
No. Surfactants are typically formulated in spermicidal lubricants. Surfactants are also used to solubilize water-insoluble ingredients in water. One scientific study (Kurtz et al, 2002) showed that the presence of surfactant Pluronic 127 was harmful to sperm, although more studies are needed to confirm and fully validate this finding. As Sasmar Conceive Plus™ is scientifically formulated to not harm sperm, it does not contain any surfactant.
Selected Scientific References:
Kurz A, Viertel D, Herrmann A, Müller K., Localization of phosphatidylserine
in boar sperm cell membranes during capacitation and acrosome
reaction, Reproduction. 2005 Nov;130(5):615-26.
External Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluronic.
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QUESTION:
Does Sasmar Conceive Plus™ contain any substances from larch tree bark, such as arabinogalactan?
ANSWER:
No.
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QUESTION:
Does Sasmar Conceive Plus™ contain any harmful acidic polymers?
ANSWER:
No. Acrylic acid derived polymers, such as Carbomer, are acidic and are one of the key ingredients of spermicidal lubricants, such a BufferGel (see references below) that reduce the chance of conception and pregnancy.
Selected Scientific References:
Lee C-H, Bagdon R and Chien YW, Comparative in vitro spermicidal
activity of chelating agents and synergistic effect with nonoxynol-9
on human sperm functionality, Journal of pharmaceutical sciences,
1996, 85; 91-95.
Olmsted S, Dubin N, Cone R and Moench T, The rate at which human
sperm are immobilized and killed by mild acidity, Fertil Steril.
2000 Apr;73(4):687-93.
External links:
http://www.reprotect.com/products.shtml
http://www.jhu.edu/news_info/news/home02/jan02/germs.html
http://std.about.com/b/2007/09/27/go-buffergel.htm
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QUESTION:
Is Sasmar Conceive Plus™ safe for sperm and embryo development?
ANSWER:
YES. The Conceive Plus formula has been developed in conjuction
with experts from respected, leading USA university hospitals
and and is proven to be safe for sperm and embryo development.
Extensive studies have been carried out on Conceive Plus (including
different production batches made in both our France and Australian
factories). Recently some of our studies were published by the
American Society for Reproductive Medicine and you can see the
actual RESULTS of the studies under "The
Science" tab.
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QUESTION:
Is Sasmar Conceive Plus™ the only commercially available sperm-safe lubricant for couples trying-to-conceive?
ANSWER:
Probably not. Internet search reveals that there are several
other non-spermicidal lubricants now available for sale online.
However, we strongly believe that Sasmar Conceive Plus™ most closely
mimics the fertile natural environment as it exclusively contains
the Calcium and Magnesium ions that are naturally present in fertile
human cervical fluids and are critical for sperm viability and
function.
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Note To All Our Readers:
Please be aware of the concept of “The marketing of fear” (see
Selling sickness: the pharmaceutical industry and disease mongering,
BMJ 2002; 324: 886) as you research the various lubricants available.
It often includes instilling fear about a disease, condition or
drug (or ingredients) in the name of “awareness” using selected
scientific data that only supports their own point of view and
then offering/selling the only perfect solution to cure the “fear”.
As there are no absolutes in science and medicine, always be skeptical
of online advice that sounds like the “final word” (see “The
logic of scientific discovery” by Sir Karl Popper, Basic Books,
New York, 1959).
Excellent external links from respected scientific
journals:
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/324/7342/886
http://collections.plos.org/plosmedicine/diseasemongering-2006.php
See also: Clinical Information for Medical Professionals