Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38924386›Full record

Observational studyAndrology2025

Type 1 diabetes mellitus and sperm quality: A case-control study.

Andrea Delbarba, Valentina Anelli, Francesca Bambini, Caterina Buoso, Paolo Facondo, Elisa Gatta, Angela Girelli, Carlo Cappelli, Alberto Ferlin

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Andrology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing 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

8 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
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  4. Article
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  7. Observational
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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

9 authors.

Andrea DelbarbaDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, SSD of Endocrinology, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-7474-3451
Valentina AnelliDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, SSD of Endocrinology, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Francesca BambiniDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, SSD of Endocrinology, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Caterina BuosoDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, SSD of Endocrinology, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Paolo FacondoUnit of Diabetology, ASST Garda, Gavardo, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-9257-1043
Elisa GattaDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, SSD of Endocrinology, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Angela GirelliUOC Medicina Generale ad indirizzo Metabolico e Diabetologico, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Carlo CappelliDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, SSD of Endocrinology, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Alberto FerlinDepartment of Medicine, Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-5817-8141

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe potential impact of diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM1) on male fertility is currently poorly defined. Hyperglycaemia and insulin deficiency may affect spermatogenesis. Some evidence suggests that men with DM1 have a significant reduction in progressive sperm motility, sperm morphology and semen volume, without significant changes in sperm concentration and count, but definite data are lacking.

objectivesTo evaluate the impact of DM1 on clinical parameters related to male fertility and semen analysis. MATERIALS AND

methodsWe compared a court of 42 male DM1 patients with 43 nondiabetic subjects overlapping in age and remaining clinical data in an observational case-control study. All subjects underwent a comprehensive andrological reproductive evaluation, including medical history, physical examination, and semen analysis. We collected biochemical data in all patients with DM1, while diabetic patients with any alteration in semen parameters underwent sperm culture and scrotal ultrasound. In addition, all men completed the IIEF-5 questionnaire (International Index of Erectile Function-5) and the AMS (Aging Male Symptom score) questionnaire.

resultsPatients with DM1 had a higher prevalence of infertility, erectile dysfunction and worse semen parameters compared with controls. In particular, semen volume, total sperm count, and total and progressive sperm motility were significantly lower (p < 0.001, p = 0.003, p = 0.048, and p = 0.022 respectively). In addition, the rate of semen anti-sperm antibody positivity, the AMS score and FSH levels were higher. DISCUSSION AND

conclusionSeveral mechanisms may contribute to these semen alterations in DM1 patients, such as oxidative damage to spermatogenesis, seminal infections and pelvic neurological changes. These data suggest that patients with DM1 should be counselled from an andrological-reproductive point of view.

Indexed as

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1Infertility, MaleSpermatozoaAdultCase-Control StudiesErectile DysfunctionHumansMaleMiddle AgedSemen AnalysisSperm CountSperm Motilityinfertilitysemen analysissperm qualitytype 1 diabetes mellitus

Identifiers

PMID38924386
PMCPMC11815542

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Registered trials

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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.