Science Quickly Diagnosing Male Infertility with a Mechanical Engineering Twist
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May 28, 2025 Join Sushanta Mitra, a mechanical and mechatronics engineering professor at the University of Waterloo, as he uncovers the under-discussed world of male infertility. He introduces groundbreaking at-home sperm testing that uses adhesion measurements to predict motility, making assessments more accessible and precise. The conversation reveals how lifestyle choices impact sperm health and emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in advancing infertility diagnostics. Tune in to learn how science is reshaping reproductive health!
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Male Infertility is Underdiagnosed
- Male infertility is often overlooked despite its significant contribution to couples' fertility issues.
- About 50% of infertility cases involve sperm-related problems, highlighting the need for better diagnostics.
New Sperm Test via Adhesion
- Current sperm tests focus mainly on motility using microscopy.
- Our research proposes measuring sperm adhesion as a new, accurate metric to assess sperm quality.
Engineering Meets Sperm Health
- We developed cantilever-based tech to measure droplet adhesion systematically.
- This method enabled us to examine how sperm-laden drops adhere to surfaces, linking adhesion to sperm health.