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Background: Various studies have explored the association between outdoor air pollution and semen quality. However, the results were still controversial. The object of the current meta-analysis is to evaluate the role of outdoor air pollution in semen quality., Methods: Databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase will be searched to identify qualified studies. All qualified cross-sectional studies researching the association between outdoor air pollution and sperm parameters will be included. Relative data in participants under higher exposure and lower exposure to air pollution will be extracted by 2 investigators independently. Only participants under the highest and the lowest exposure will be enrolled if the original study contained more than 2 exposure levels. The semen volume, sperm concentration, progressive motility, total motility, and normal morphology rate will be the primary outcomes of the current study. Pooled estimates with corresponding 95% confidence intervals will be calculated to assess the specific effects of outdoor air pollution in semen quality. Moreover, trial sequential analyses will be performed to obtain a more comprehensive assessment of analyses., Results: A high-quality synthesis of the current evidence for the association between sperm parameters and outdoor air pollution will be provided., Conclusions: This meta-analysis and systematic review will generate evidence for judging whether outdoor air pollution can impair semen quality., Prospero Registration Number: PROSPERO CRD 42019126060.

The objective of the current study was to explore the role of body mass index (BMI) in sperm quality and erectile function in Chinese males of infertile couples. A total of 28 fertility centers in different regions of China were enrolled. Patient data were collected from June 1, 2017, through October 31, 2017. Semen analyses and demographic data were collected and the five-item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire was used to evaluate the erectile function in participants with different BMIs. In total, 3,174 Chinese men of infertile couples with an average age of 33.11 ± 6.08 years were enrolled. The occurrence of obesity, overweight, normal weight, and underweight were 5.4%, 36.6%, 56.8%, and 1.2%, respectively. In addition to hypertension and diabetes, primary infertility, a longer course of infertility, and chronic prostatitis were risk factors for obesity. Compared with men of normal weight, adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for men with obesity, overweight, and underweight for semen volume <2 ml were 2.53 (95% CI [1.61, 3.97]), 1.33 (95% CI [1.09, 1.62]), and 0.84 (95% CI [0.29, 2.43]); for sperm progressive motility (A + B) (%) <32, the ORs were 1.60 (95% CI [1.16, 2.22]), 1.30 (95% CI [1.12, 1.51]), and 1.03 (95% CI [0.54, 1.98]); and for IIEF-5 ≤ 21, the ORs were 1.52 (95% CI [1.10, 2.10]), 1.11 (95% CI [0.96, 1.30]), and 0.62 (95% CI [0.31, 1.26]), respectively. Obesity was associated with lower semen volume, lower sperm motility, and erectile dysfunction in Chinese males of infertile couples.

Congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD) is clinically characterized by the absence of the bilateral vas deferens; the main clinical manifestation is infertility, accounting for 1–2% of male infertility cases. CBAVD may be accompanied by congenital abnormalities in the urogenital system and cystic fibrosis (CF)-related clinical manifestations. CBAVD can develop as a mild manifestation of CF or can be isolated. The main pathogenic mechanism of CBAVD is gene mutation, and CBAVD and CF have a common genetic mutation background. CFTR mutation is the main pathogenic cause of CBAVD and CF, and ADGRG2 mutation is the second most common cause. Although lack of the vas deferens in CBAVD patients causes infertility due to the inability to release sperm, the testes of CBAVD patients have spermatogenic function. Therefore, CBAVD patients can achieve fertility through sperm retrieval surgery and assisted reproductive technology (ART). However, gene mutations in CBAVD patients can have an impact on the ART outcome, and there is a risk of passing on gene mutations to offspring. For CBAVD patients and their spouses, performing genetic counseling (which currently refers mainly to CFTR mutation screening) helps to reduce the risks of genetic mutations being passed on to offspring and of offspring having CF with concomitant CBAVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective. Knowledge on the clinical features of timely ovulatory intercourse failure (TOIF) is limited. The current study is aimed at investigating the psychological status, infertility-associated factors, and erectile function in males with TOIF. Material and Methods. Between June 2018 and December 2018, all qualified patients of infertile couples were continuously enrolled from the andrologic clinic of Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Semen analyses and demographic data were collected, and the International Index of Erectile Function 15 (IIEF-15) questionnaire was used to evaluate the erectile function in the participants with or without TOIF. In addition, the Mental Health Inventory-5 and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Short Form questionnaires were used to evaluate the psychological status. Results. A total of 1128 patients were enrolled, and 264 of them (23.40%) suffered from TOIF. TOIF was positively associated with smoking, drinking, hypertension, diabetes, anxiety, unknown cause of infertility, lower semen concentration, lower frequency of intercourse, and decreased erectile function. The total IIEF-15 scores, erectile function, orgasmic function, sexual desire, intercourse satisfaction, and overall satisfaction were significantly decreased in patients with TOIF. Conclusion. TOIF is associated with lower semen concentration, anxiety, and other comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes. Clinicians are required to focus on these associated factors in addition to improve the erectile function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Several studies have explored the association between outdoor air pollution and semen quality. However, the results were inconsistent. We performed the current meta-analysis to evaluate the role of outdoor air pollution in semen quality. Material and Methods. Databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were searched to identify relevant studies. Relative data in participants under higher exposure and lower exposure to air pollution were extracted. Pooled weighted mean differences (WMDs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were utilized to assess the effects of outdoor air pollution on semen quality. In addition, trial sequential analyses (TSAs) were performed to obtain a more comprehensive assessment of analyses. Results. A total of 11 studies with 4562 males were enrolled in the current meta-analysis. Higher air pollution levels were associated with significant decreases in semen volume (WMD: -0.16, 95% CI: -0.27 to -0.05), sperm concentration (WMD: -5.52, 95% CI: -9.88 to -1.16), progressive motility (WMD: -6.23, 95% CI: -11.64 to -0.81), total motility (WMD: -7.65, 95% CI: -14.09 to -1.20), and normal sperm morphology rate (WMD: -3.71, 95% CI: -5.59 to -1.82). In addition, the DNA fragmentation index significantly increased (WMD: 4.11, 95% CI: 1.94 to 6.29). Conclusions. Air pollution is associated with decreased semen volume, sperm concentration, motility, and normal morphology rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]