Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28675168›Full record

ReviewNature reviews. Urology2017

Varicocele and male infertility.

Christian Fuglesang S Jensen, Peter Østergren, James M Dupree, Dana A Ohl, Jens Sønksen, Mikkel Fode

Abstract readReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Nature reviews. Urology, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 176 papers, 7 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
176citing papers in PubMed, 7 pooled it
13.6field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

176 citing papers in PubMed, 7 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 345 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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  4. Surgical or radiological treatment for varicoceles in subfertile men.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2021
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  16. Nrf2 Levels in Human Semen and Spermatozoa: Association with FInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2026
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116 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Christian Fuglesang S JensenDepartment of Urology, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Herlev Ringvej 75, DK-2730 Herlev, Denmark.
Peter ØstergrenDepartment of Urology, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Herlev Ringvej 75, DK-2730 Herlev, Denmark.
James M DupreeDepartment of Urology, University of Michigan, 1500 E Medical Center Dr, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
Dana A OhlDepartment of Urology, University of Michigan, 1500 E Medical Center Dr, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
Jens SønksenDepartment of Urology, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Herlev Ringvej 75, DK-2730 Herlev, Denmark.
Mikkel FodeDepartment of Urology, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Herlev Ringvej 75, DK-2730 Herlev, Denmark.
Gentofte Hospital · DKUniversity of Copenhagen · DKUniversity of Michigan–Ann Arbor · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The link between varicoceles and male infertility has been a matter of debate for more than half a century. Varicocele is considered the most common correctable cause of male infertility, but some men with varicoceles are able to father children, even without intervention. In addition, improvements in semen quality after varicocelectomy do not always result in spontaneous pregnancy. Studies regarding possible pathophysiological mechanisms behind varicocele-induced infertility have tried to address these controversies. Oxidative stress seems to be a central mechanism; however, no single theory is able to explain the differential effect of varicoceles on infertility. As a consequence, careful patient selection for treatment based on couple fertility status, varicocele grade, and semen quality is critical for achieving a chance of a subsequent pregnancy. A substantial amount of data on the effects of varicocelectomy has been gathered, but inadequate study design and considerable heterogeneity of available studies mean that these data are rarely conclusive. Current evidence suggests a beneficial effect of varicocelectomy on semen quality and pregnancy outcomes in couples with documented infertility only if the male partner has a clinically palpable varicocele and affected semen parameters.

Indexed as

HumansInfertility, MaleMaleRisk FactorsTreatment OutcomeVaricocele

Identifiers

PMID28675168
OpenAlexW2725628753

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.