Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31274479›Full record

SynthesisAsian journal of andrology

FSH dosage effect on conventional sperm parameters: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies.

Rossella Cannarella, Sandro La Vignera, Rosita A Condorelli, Laura M Mongioì, Aldo E Calogero

Open access · goldAbstract readMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Asian journal of andrology. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 32 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
32citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
4.8field-weighted citation impact, top 5% 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

32 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 62 citations in OpenAlex.

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  10. Yamabushitake Mushroom (International journal of molecular sciences · 2025
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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

5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Rossella CannarellaDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania 95123, Italy.
Sandro La VigneraDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania 95123, Italy.
Rosita A CondorelliDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania 95123, Italy.
Laura M MongioìDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania 95123, Italy.
Aldo E CalogeroDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania 95123, Italy.
University of Catania · IT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) represents a therapeutic option in normogonadotropic patients with idiopathic oligozoospermia. The aim of this review was to evaluate the possible dose- and drug-dependent efficacy of FSH treatment on conventional sperm parameters. We performed a comprehensive systematic review via a meta-analysis of all available randomized controlled trials, in which FSH administration was compared with placebo or no treatment when administered to normogonadotropic patients with idiopathic oligozoospermia. Of the 971 articles that were retrieved, 5 were finally included, including a total of 372 patients and 294 controls. Overall, FSH treatment was effective in ameliorating the sperm concentration, total count, progressive motility, but not normal forms. On the basis of the weekly dosage, the studies were classified into those using low (175-262.5 IU per week), intermediate (350-525 IU per week), and high (700-1050 IU per week) doses. At low doses, FSH improved only sperm motility. At intermediate doses, FSH ameliorated sperm concentration and morphology. Total sperm count and progressive motility showed a trend toward the increase. At high doses, FSH increased sperm concentration, total sperm count, and progressive motility. Sperm morphology showed a trend toward the increase. Finally, both highly purified FSH (hpFSH) and recombinant human FSH (rhFSH) improved sperm concentration, total sperm count, progressive motility, but not morphology. No different efficacy was observed between these two preparations. This meta-analysis provides evidence in favor of high FSH doses. The FSH efficacy was not related to the preparation type (recombinant vs highly purified). Further studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of long-standing treatment regimes.

Indexed as

Sperm CountSperm MotilityDose-Response Relationship, DrugFollicle Stimulating Hormone, HumanHormonesHumansInfertility, MaleMaleOligospermiaRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicRecombinant ProteinsTreatment OutcomeFollicle Stimulating Hormone, HumanHormonesRecombinant Proteinsfollicle-stimulating hormonemale infertilityoligozoospermiasperm concentrationsperm count

Identifiers

PMID31274479
PMCPMC7275804
OpenAlexW2953469433

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-SA
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.