Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39851485›Full record

ReviewDiseases (Basel, Switzerland)2025

Posterior Urethral Valves and Fertility: Insight on Paternity Rates and Seminal Parameters.

Marcello Della Corte, Simona Gerocarni Nappo, Antonio Aversa, Sandro La Vignera, Francesco Porpiglia, Cristian Fiori, Nicola Mondaini

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Diseases (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing 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

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. 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

7 authors.

Marcello Della CorteDivision of Urology, Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 Orbassano, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-3910-8679
Simona Gerocarni NappoDivision of Pediatric Urology, Regina Margherita Hospital, 10043 Turin, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-2279-8661
Antonio AversaDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-2989-2618
Sandro La VigneraDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-7113-2372
Francesco PorpigliaDivision of Urology, Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 Orbassano, Italy.
Cristian FioriDivision of Urology, Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 Orbassano, Italy.
Nicola MondainiDepartment of Urology, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPosterior urethral valves (PUVs) represent the most common cause of male congenital lower urinary tract obstruction, often responsible for renal dysplasia and chronic renal failure. Despite recent improvements in patients' outcomes thanks to prenatal ultrasound early diagnosis, PUVs can still impact sexual function and fertility. This study aims to review the available evidence on fertility in PUV patients, examining paternity rates and semen parameters.

methodsA review was conducted of the PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, and Embase databases. Studies focusing on fertility and paternity outcomes in PUV patients were selected, including case reports, case series, and retrospective and prospective studies.

resultsA total of 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. The review revealed that PUV patients often exhibit compromised semen parameters, including low sperm count, reduced motility, and abnormal morphology, as well as alterations in seminal plasma. PUV diagnoses are common in adults exhibiting infertility and ejaculation disorders, suggesting PUVs cannot be considered only a pediatric disease. Paternity rates among PUV patients were rarely reported in extenso, hampering the correct assessment of the overall medium paternity rate and its comparison with that of healthy individuals. Lastly, seminal parameters were assessed in a minimal cohort of patients, therefore, they could not be considered representative.

conclusionsFertility and seminal parameters in PUV patients represent an under-investigated area. PUVs can variably and non-univocally affect fatherhood, and they may be associated with compromised semen quality. Early intervention and long-term follow-up are essential to address potential fertility issues. Future research should focus on developing targeted strategies to preserve and enhance fertility in this patient population.

Indexed as

fertilitylower urinary tract obstructionmegacystispaternityposterior urethral valvesprenatal hydronephrosisrenal dysplasiaretrograde ejaculationupper urinary tract dilationurethral obstruction

Identifiers

PMID39851485
PMCPMC11764659

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.