Browsing by Author "Rosa, Rita Lopes Pato de Oliveira"
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- Impact of Ultrasound Gels on Sperm Function Safety Assessment of Transvaginal Ultrasound for Trying-To-Conceive CouplesPublication . Rosa, Rita Lopes Pato de Oliveira; Ruivo, Patrícia Cordeiro Pires de Figueiredo Gomes Crisóstomo; Oliveira, Rita Manuela Palmeira deIntroduction: Ultrasonography plays a central role in the diagnosis and treatment of infertility, affecting trying-to-conceive couples. This technique requires the use of ultrasound gels which, lacking regulation and clear guidelines, can compromise safety standards. Objective: This study aims to characterize physicochemically four ultrasound gels for their pH, osmolality and viscosity, and evaluate their potential negative impact on sperm motility, using a bovine in vitro model. Materials and Methods: Four ultrasound gels marketed in Europe were tested for pH (by immersion), osmolality (via cryoscopic depression) and viscosity (using a viscometer). After, they were incubated at 10%(v/v)/37ºC, for 60’, with bovine spermatozoa previously capacitated. Sperm motility was evaluated at 30’ and 60’ for each sample/control, in triplicate, to assess the percentage of sperm motility. Two independent runs were performed. GraphPad© was used to perform one-way-ANOVA with Dunnett’s post hoc test (p<0.05) for significance, comparing %Motility between samples and Negative Control (sample without ultrasound gel). Results and Discussion: All the ultrasound gels have an acidic pH one is hypoosmolal and the other three hyperosmolar. Quick-Eco Gel® exhibited the highest viscosity while Clear Eco Supergel® had the lowest. The percentage of progressive spermatozoa for Negative Control was 86% (30’) and 83% (60’) and less than 5% for all ultrasound gels (Sterile Aquasonic® 4%/2%, Quick-Eco Gel® 3%/1%, Clear Eco Gel® 1%/2% and “Gel Ultrassom Azul” 1% at 30’ and 60’). Statistical analysis was significant for all ultrasound gels at both 30 and 60 minutes. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that tested gels could have a detrimental impact on sperm motility which underscores the importance of further research to contribute to the regulation of these gels, especially for trying-to-conceive couples use.