Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38761331›Full record

SynthesisInternational urology and nephrology2024

Don't wait any longer, conceive in time: a systematic review and meta-analysis based on semen parameters after varicocelectomy.

Yangyang Mei, Nuo Ji, Xingliang Feng, Renfang Xu, Dong Xue

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in International urology and nephrology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

9 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Review
  9. Article
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.

Yangyang MeiDepartment of Urology, Jiangyin People's Hospital of Jiangsu Province, Jiangyin, Jiangsu, China.
Nuo JiDepartment of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Xingliang FengDepartment of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China. drf120@126.com.
Renfang XuDepartment of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China. czyyxrf@163.com.
Dong XueDepartment of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China. xuedongdx@163.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundVaricocelectomy was considered to be beneficial to patients with varicocele-related infertility. However, there are only a few researchers who have explored the relationship between better timing and postoperative semen improvement in patients.

methodsWe conducted this meta-analysis by enrolling published prospective studies to find out the best waiting time after varicocelectomy to wait for better improvement of semen quality. An extensive search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library to identify eligible studies. The included studies were then analyzed comprehensively using STATA software and standardized mean differences (SMDs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals were calculated.

resultsOur comprehensive analysis showed that after varicocelectomy, follow-up results within 3 months or longer showed a significant improvement in semen parameters compared to the preoperative period. Notably, no further improvement in semen parameters was observed when the follow-up period reached six months or longer (semen volume: WMD: - 0.07 (- 0.29, 0.16); sperm concentration: WMD: - 1.33 (- 2.33, - 4.99); sperm motility: WMD: 2.31 (- 0.55, 5.18); sperm morphology: WMD: 1.29 (- 0.66, 3.24); sperm total motile count: WMD: 3.95 (- 6.28, 14.19)).

conclusionsThree months after varicocelectomy may be the optimal time for semen parameters compared to six months or even longer, which means it is also the preferable time for conception. However, more well-designed prospective studies are needed in the future to validate our conclusion.

Indexed as

FertilizationInfertility, MaleSemenUrologic Surgical Procedures, MaleVaricoceleHumansMaleSemen AnalysisTime FactorsMeta-analysisSemen parametersSystematic reviewVaricoceleVaricocelectomy

Identifiers

PMID38761331
PMCPMC11405448

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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.