Supplementary Table 2.
Selection criteria for the inclusion of studies (population intervention comparison outcome)
| Included | Excluded | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | Normogonadotropic (1.5 mIU ml−1 <FSH ≤12 mIU ml−1) patients with idiopathic oligo, astheno- and/or teratozoospermia and a history of infertility |
Varicocele Y chromosome microdeletions Male accessory gland infection (evaluated by spermioculture) History of cryptorchidism Testicular torsion or trauma Azoospermia Hypogonadotropic (FSH <1.5 mmIU ml−1) hypogonadism Hypergonadotropic (FSH ≥12 IU ml−1) hypogonadism Isolated gonadotropin deficiency Hyperprolactinemia Other risk factors for impaired semen quality Normozoospermic fertile men |
| Intervention(s) | FSH therapy administered for at least 3 and not more than 4 months | |
| Comparison | Semen analysis performed according to the WHO guidelines (any edition) after the beginning of FSH administration (group of patients) or placebo/ no treatment/ no antioxidant vitamin supplements (control group) |
Studies where data of the control group were not provided |
| Outcomes | Sperm concentration (mil ml−1) Sperm count (mil/ejaculate) Progressive sperm motility (%) Sperm total motility (%) Sperm morphology (%) |
Total motile sperm count |
| Study type | Randomized controlled trials | Not-randomized trials, cross-sectional, case-control and cohort studies, case reports, case series, reviews |
WHO: World Health Organization; FSH: follicle-stimulating hormone