Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41055724›Full record

ReviewWorld journal of urology2025

Chronic prostatitis and male infertility: association mechanism and research progress.

Zhang Qinyu, Shi Jitao, Xuan Yang, Duan Yue, Zhang Hao

Abstract readReview
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In one paragraph

Review in World journal of urology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing 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

7 citing papers in PubMed.

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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.

Zhang Qinyu *The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 310053, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Shi Jitao *The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 310053, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Xuan Yang *Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 310005, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Duan YueDepartment of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 310005, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. dyurology@163.com.
Zhang HaoDepartment of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 310005, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. htjtcm@163.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo systematically examine the association between chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) and male infertility, elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms by which CP/CPPS impairs fertility, summarize current research advancements, and establish a foundation for targeted diagnosis and treatment strategies.

methodThis study synthesizes clinical research, meta-analyses, and experimental model evidence to examine alterations in semen parameters (concentration, motility, morphology, DNA fragmentation rate) and seminal plasma biomarkers (PSA, cytokines, hormones). It explores the interactions across various systems, including neuro-immune-endocrine dysregulation, metabolic diseases, microcirculatory dysfunction, aberrant intestinal-prostate axis activity, and mitochondrial autophagy. The study assesses diagnostic frameworks such as NIH-CPSI and UPOINT, along with their therapeutic effectiveness.

resultsCP/CPPS markedly decreased sperm concentration (SMD= - 14.12), forward motility (SMD= - 5.94), and normal morphology rate (SMD= - 8.26), while elevating DNA fragmentation rates (> 30%). Principal mechanisms comprise: (1) Pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-6, TNF-α) impairing mitochondrial function and DNA integrity; (2) Neuroendocrine dysfunction inhibiting the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis; (3) Metabolic syndrome comorbidity (OR = 2.10) inducing an energy crisis via mitochondrial dysfunction; (4) Gut microbiota dysbiosis diminishing anti-inflammatory short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), intensifying systemic and reproductive tract inflammation; (5) Mitophagy impairments (e.g., PINK1 dysfunction) resulting in the accumulation of damaged sperm mitochondria. UPOINTs phenotype-guided multimodal therapy mitigates clinical symptoms, with 77.5% of patients attaining a reduction of at least 6 points in the NIH chronic prostatitis symptom index (NIH-CPSI) scores within 6 months.

conclusionThe intricate pathogenesis of male infertility in CP/CPPS encompasses a diverse array of pathways: inflammatory, autoimmune, neuroendocrine, metabolic, and mitochondrial. Future investigations should concentrate on the mechanisms of mitochondrial autophagy and the regulation of epigenetics. Clinical management may contemplate the implementation of multidisciplinary, collaborative, phenotype-oriented, comprehensive therapies to disrupt the "chronic pain-inflammation-infertility" vicious cycle and protect fertility health.

Indexed as

Infertility, MaleProstatitisChronic DiseaseHumansMaleChronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndromeGut-prostate axisInflammatory cytokinesMale infertilityMitochondrial autophagyMitochondrial dysfunctionSemen parametersUPOINT phenotypic classification

Identifiers

PMID41055724

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.