ReviewBasic and clinical andrology2024
Is testicular microlithiasis associated with decreased semen parameters? a systematic review.
Review in Basic and clinical andrology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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.
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.
Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed.
- Microsurgical Onco-Testicular Sperm Extraction in a Patient With Testicular Cancer and Congenital Unilateral Testicular Absence: A Case Report.IJU case reports · 2026Article
- From incidentaloma to actionable insight: a clinical-molecular-imaging framework for risk-stratified management of testicular microlithiasis.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2026Review
- An Insight into Testicular Macrocalcification-A Retrospective Study of 42 Cases on a Rare Sonographic Finding.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Clinical and imaging diagnosis of pediatric testicular microlithiasis: a physician's dilemma.Frontiers in pediatrics · 2025Review
- Management of pediatric testicular microlithiasis.Frontiers in pediatrics · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundTesticular microlithiasis (TM) is characterised by microcalcifications in the testes and has been associated with infertility. This has led to studies of semen analysis in men with the condition. This systematic review aimed to compare semen parameters in men with TM and those without. Men with classic TM (≥ 5 microcalcifications per sonographic image) were also compared to those with limited TM (< 5 microcalcifications per sonographic image). Additionally, testicular volume and hormone levels were analysed as secondary outcomes. This review was carried out according to PRISMA guidelines and registered on PROSPERO. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.
resultsEmbase, MEDLINE, World of Science and Scopus were searched. Abstracts were screened against inclusion/exclusion criteria by two independent reviewers. Eligible studies included data on semen parameters in men with TM where semen analysis was done according to World Health Organisation recommendations. Studies with populations consisting of men with testicular cancer were excluded. After searching the databases, 137 papers were found and 10 studies involving 611 men with TM were included in the analysis. In the studies that compared sperm concentration in men with TM to controls, six (100%) found lower sperm concentration in the TM group. Six studies compared sperm motility, of which 4 (66.7%) showed lower motility in the TM group compared to controls. Five studies compared sperm morphology, with three (60%) finding a lower percentage of normal morphology in the TM group compared to controls. Six studies compared classic TM with limited TM. All six (100%) found a lower sperm concentration in the classic TM group compared to the limited TM group. Results also suggested that more extensive disease is associated with poorer sperm concentration.
conclusionsThis review suggests that TM is associated with decreased semen parameters, particularly sperm concentration. However, clinical outcomes should be investigated by studying pregnancy rates in males with TM. Future research that controls for confounding variables, involves larger sample sizes, and utilises advanced sperm function tests is also advised. Further research is important for establishing clinical guidance and suggestions for fertility follow-up in men with TM.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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.