Effect of Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibitors on the Treatment of Male Infertility: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Abstract
Purpose Male infertility is a worldwide problem with limitations in the treatment. Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5is) is the first choice for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, more and more studies show that it has a certain effect on male infertility in recent years. But there was currently no high quality of systematic review to evaluate the effects of PDE5is on semen quality. Materials and Methods We retrieved the electronic databases of MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, etc. Related randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were collected and selected up to May 20, 2020. We have searched literature with terms “male infertility”, “phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors”, “PDE5i”, “Tadalafil”, “Sildenafil”, “Vardenafil”, “Udenafil”, “Avanafil”, “semen”, and “sperm”. Mean value and its standard deviation were used to perform quantitative analysis. All statistical analyses were conducted by RevMan 5.3 and Stata software. Results There were a total of 1,121 participants in the nine included studies. There was a statistically significant improvement treated with PDE5is compared with sham therapy, which including sperm concentration (mean difference [MD]=1.96, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.70–2.21, p<0.001; MD=3.22, 95% CI=1.96–4.48, p<0.001), straight progressive motility (%) Grade A (MD=3.71, 95% CI=2.21–5.20, p<0.001), sperm motility (MD=8.09, 95% CI=7.83–8.36, p<0.001), morphologically normal spermatozoa (%) (MD=0.67, 95% CI=0.20–1.15, p=0.005; MD=1.27, 95%…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 1,121 participants or records.
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