Biosensor to detect vaginal temperature and PH: A review study to promote women's individual health
Biosensor to detect vaginal temperature and PH: A review study to promote women's individual health
Fereshteh Gholami,1Maryam Tadayyon,2Mohammad Reza Sanjabi,3Rahil Mosallanejad,4Seyyed Ebrahim Moosavifard,5,*
1. Student Research Committee, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran 2. Student Research Committee, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran 3. Student Research Committee, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran 4. Student Research Committee, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran 5. Department of Advanced Medical Sciences & Technologies, School of Medicine, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran
Introduction: One of the most important ways to assess a woman's personal health is to constantly monitor the pH and temperature of the vagina. Today, thanks to the development of biosensors and wireless sensors, the use of noninvasive methods with minimal intervention has become possible. These sensors can be used in various medical cases such as preventing premature birth, fertility diagnosis, ovulation and in diseases such as vaginitis. In this review, we provide an overview of recent applications of biosensors to detect vaginal pH and temperature.
Methods: In the forthcoming systematic review, the required data were collected using keywords and citing valid databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar and ProQuest. The statistical population includes all studies conducted until 2021 in the field of measuring temperature and pH using biosensors. After reviewing the relevant findings and evaluating the quality of the data, 17 articles were analyzed.
Results: In this systematic review, three types of biosensors used to measure pH and temperature, including waterproof electronic decal (WPED), wireless sensor network (WSN) and OvulaRing were studied. Temperature biosensors are in vivo sensors for measuring intravaginal temperature over a long period of time. They are also equipped with disposable sensors compatible with the vaginal environment to monitor PH. The OvulaRing has the same function as a tampon. It is a vaginal ring that includes an integrated biosensor to continuously measure the temperature inside the vagina. WPEDs and WSNs, on the other hand, are non-allergenic and easy to connect to control vaginal sweating and PH. The characteristics of WPEDs include the following: adhesion, transparency, breathability, lack of moisture, flexibility and maintaining high accuracy against thermal and mechanical stresses.
Conclusion: According to research, among the advantages of these devices, low power consumption and low data for WPEDs, and flexibility and ease of use for OvulaRings, can be mentioned. We hope that by reducing the size of OvulaRings, it can be easier placed in the cervix, and with the development of WPEDs, the ability to measure health products will increase their use. Therefore, the progress of studies in this field is still needed, which helps women to improve personal health.