Infographic
Sperm Speed Up with Ultrasound
A team demonstrated that ultrasound waves improved motility in sperm.
Shelby is an assistant editor for The Scientist. She earned her PhD from West Virginia University in immunology and microbiology and completed an AAAS Mass Media fellowship.
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Low sperm motility reduces fertilization success and embryo quality in traditional and assisted conception. A research team used ultrasound waves as a form of mechanotherapy, which alters cell metabolic activity, to increase immotile sperm’s physical activity.1 They investigated this approach at a single cell level using microfluidics.2
Illustrated by Ashleigh Campsall
- Devendran C, et al. Adv Sci. 2019;6(24):1902326
- Vafaie A, et al. Sci Adv. 2024;10(7):adk2864
