Investigating the effect of polyvinylpyrrolidone-based urinary catheter coatings on spermatozoa quality

Robyn N Irwin; Jane Burns; James Quinn; David Pollard; Ased Ali; James Hands; Jessica V Moore; Colin McCoy; Louise Carson; Matthew P Wylie

doi:10.1093/pp/rqag003

Investigating the effect of polyvinylpyrrolidone-based urinary catheter coatings on spermatozoa quality

Robyn N Irwin
, Jane Burns
, James Quinn
, David Pollard
, Ased Ali
, James Hands
, Jessica V Moore
, Colin McCoy
, Louise Carson
, Matthew P Wylie

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Objectives
Hydrophilic-coated intermittent urinary catheters containing polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) are used to alleviate chronic urinary retention in individuals with neurogenic bladder dysfunction, most notably spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. However, coating delamination during catheterisation can leave PVP coating residues within the urethra, which may accumulate due to frequent catheterisation and loss of natural urethral flushing. PVP is employed in intracytoplasmic sperm injection to reduce spermatozoa motility, and prolonged exposure can alter spermatozoa morphology. Despite the high prevalence of infertility in SCI patients, the impact of PVP catheter coating residues on sperm function has not previously been explored.

Methods
This study examined coating delamination from four commercial PVP-coated catheters using an ex vivo porcine urethral model, followed by exposure of porcine spermatozoa to PVP residues. Spermatozoa viability, morphology, motility, and chromatin integrity were assessed.

Key findings
PVP coating residue exposure significantly reduced motility in porcine spermatozoa, with progressive movement falling below the threshold for human fertilisation. Morphological abnormalities were observed in the head, midpiece, and tail, while chromatin integrity analysis revealed minimal fragmentation.

Conclusions
These findings suggest that PVP coating residues can impair spermatozoa motility and morphology through physical interactions with PVP rather than genotoxic damage. If these findings in a porcine model translate to humans, they may potentially exacerbate fertility challenges in male SCI patients reliant on intermittent catheterisation.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-13
Number of pages	13
Journal	Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology
Volume	5
Issue number	1
Early online date	8 Jun 2026
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/pp/rqag003
Publication status	Published (in print/issue) - 8 Jun 2026

Data Availability Statement

The datasets generated and analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Available materials include quantitative datasets used for statistical analysis (Microsoft Excel files), statistical analysis files (GraphPad Prism), and raw image files (JPEG) extracted as timepoints from the original HEISC video recordings used for image analysis.

Funding

This study was funded by Convatec Limited. The funder’s role in the study is detailed in the Sponsor’s Role statement section.

Keywords

intermittent catheter
hydrophilic-coated catheters
polyvinylpyrrolidone
spermatozoa
spinal cord injury
infertility

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Cite this

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title = "Investigating the effect of polyvinylpyrrolidone-based urinary catheter coatings on spermatozoa quality",

abstract = "Objectives Hydrophilic-coated intermittent urinary catheters containing polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) are used to alleviate chronic urinary retention in individuals with neurogenic bladder dysfunction, most notably spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. However, coating delamination during catheterisation can leave PVP coating residues within the urethra, which may accumulate due to frequent catheterisation and loss of natural urethral flushing. PVP is employed in intracytoplasmic sperm injection to reduce spermatozoa motility, and prolonged exposure can alter spermatozoa morphology. Despite the high prevalence of infertility in SCI patients, the impact of PVP catheter coating residues on sperm function has not previously been explored. Methods This study examined coating delamination from four commercial PVP-coated catheters using an ex vivo porcine urethral model, followed by exposure of porcine spermatozoa to PVP residues. Spermatozoa viability, morphology, motility, and chromatin integrity were assessed. Key findings PVP coating residue exposure significantly reduced motility in porcine spermatozoa, with progressive movement falling below the threshold for human fertilisation. Morphological abnormalities were observed in the head, midpiece, and tail, while chromatin integrity analysis revealed minimal fragmentation. Conclusions These findings suggest that PVP coating residues can impair spermatozoa motility and morphology through physical interactions with PVP rather than genotoxic damage. If these findings in a porcine model translate to humans, they may potentially exacerbate fertility challenges in male SCI patients reliant on intermittent catheterisation.",

keywords = "intermittent catheter, hydrophilic-coated catheters, polyvinylpyrrolidone, spermatozoa, spinal cord injury, infertility",

author = "Irwin, \{Robyn N\} and Jane Burns and James Quinn and David Pollard and Ased Ali and James Hands and Moore, \{Jessica V\} and Colin McCoy and Louise Carson and Wylie, \{Matthew P\}",

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AU - Irwin, Robyn N

AU - Burns, Jane

AU - Quinn, James

AU - Pollard, David

AU - Ali, Ased

AU - Hands, James

AU - Moore, Jessica V

AU - McCoy, Colin

AU - Carson, Louise

AU - Wylie, Matthew P

PY - 2026/6/8

Y1 - 2026/6/8

N2 - Objectives Hydrophilic-coated intermittent urinary catheters containing polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) are used to alleviate chronic urinary retention in individuals with neurogenic bladder dysfunction, most notably spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. However, coating delamination during catheterisation can leave PVP coating residues within the urethra, which may accumulate due to frequent catheterisation and loss of natural urethral flushing. PVP is employed in intracytoplasmic sperm injection to reduce spermatozoa motility, and prolonged exposure can alter spermatozoa morphology. Despite the high prevalence of infertility in SCI patients, the impact of PVP catheter coating residues on sperm function has not previously been explored. Methods This study examined coating delamination from four commercial PVP-coated catheters using an ex vivo porcine urethral model, followed by exposure of porcine spermatozoa to PVP residues. Spermatozoa viability, morphology, motility, and chromatin integrity were assessed. Key findings PVP coating residue exposure significantly reduced motility in porcine spermatozoa, with progressive movement falling below the threshold for human fertilisation. Morphological abnormalities were observed in the head, midpiece, and tail, while chromatin integrity analysis revealed minimal fragmentation. Conclusions These findings suggest that PVP coating residues can impair spermatozoa motility and morphology through physical interactions with PVP rather than genotoxic damage. If these findings in a porcine model translate to humans, they may potentially exacerbate fertility challenges in male SCI patients reliant on intermittent catheterisation.

AB - Objectives Hydrophilic-coated intermittent urinary catheters containing polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) are used to alleviate chronic urinary retention in individuals with neurogenic bladder dysfunction, most notably spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. However, coating delamination during catheterisation can leave PVP coating residues within the urethra, which may accumulate due to frequent catheterisation and loss of natural urethral flushing. PVP is employed in intracytoplasmic sperm injection to reduce spermatozoa motility, and prolonged exposure can alter spermatozoa morphology. Despite the high prevalence of infertility in SCI patients, the impact of PVP catheter coating residues on sperm function has not previously been explored. Methods This study examined coating delamination from four commercial PVP-coated catheters using an ex vivo porcine urethral model, followed by exposure of porcine spermatozoa to PVP residues. Spermatozoa viability, morphology, motility, and chromatin integrity were assessed. Key findings PVP coating residue exposure significantly reduced motility in porcine spermatozoa, with progressive movement falling below the threshold for human fertilisation. Morphological abnormalities were observed in the head, midpiece, and tail, while chromatin integrity analysis revealed minimal fragmentation. Conclusions These findings suggest that PVP coating residues can impair spermatozoa motility and morphology through physical interactions with PVP rather than genotoxic damage. If these findings in a porcine model translate to humans, they may potentially exacerbate fertility challenges in male SCI patients reliant on intermittent catheterisation.

KW - intermittent catheter

KW - hydrophilic-coated catheters

KW - polyvinylpyrrolidone

KW - spermatozoa

KW - spinal cord injury

KW - infertility

U2 - 10.1093/pp/rqag003

DO - 10.1093/pp/rqag003

M3 - Article

SN - 2978-5278

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JO - Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology

JF - Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology

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ER -

Investigating the effect of polyvinylpyrrolidone-based urinary catheter coatings on spermatozoa quality

Abstract

Data Availability Statement

Funding

Keywords

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