Diagnosis and Treatment of Infertility in Men: AUA/ASRM Guideline PART II.

PURPOSE: The summary presented herein represents Part II of the two-part series dedicated to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Infertility in Men: AUA/ASRM Guideline. Part II outlines the appropriate management of the male in an infertile couple. Medical therapies, surgical techniques, as well as use of intrauterine insemination (IUI)/in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) are covered to allow for optimal patient management. Please refer to Part I for discussion on evaluation of the infertile male and discussion of relevant health conditions that are associated with male infertility. MATERIALS/METHODS: The Emergency Care Research Institute Evidence-based Practice Center team searched PubMed®, Embase®, and Medline from January 2000 through May 2019. When sufficient evidence existed, the body of evidence was assigned a strength rating of A (high), B (moderate), or C (low) for support of Strong, Moderate, or Conditional Recommendations. In the absence of sufficient evidence, additional information is provided as Clinical Principles and Expert Opinions (table[Table: see text]). This summary is being simultaneously published in Fertility and Sterility and The Journal of Urology. RESULTS: This Guideline provides updated, evidence-based recommendations regarding management of male infertility. Such recommendations are summarized in the associated algorithm (figure[Figure: see text]). CONCLUSION: Male contributions to infertility are prevalent, and specific treatment as well as assisted reproductive techniques are effective at managing male infertility. This document will undergo additional literature reviews and updating as the knowledge regarding current treatments and future treatment options continues to expand.

Incidence of testicular microlithiasis in patients with ß-thalassemia major.

We assessed the prevalence of testicular microlithiasis by scrotal ultrasonography in ß-thalassemia major patients older than 10 years and evaluated the association with serum ferritin levels, calcium (Ca), phosphate (Ph), and parathyroid hormone levels (PTH). In this cross-sectional study, 132 male ß-thalassemia major patients from 300 male patients older than 10 years old were randomly evaluated by scrotal ultrasonography. Parathyroid hormone, calcium, phosphate, and serum ferritin levels were also evaluated. All of the patients were urologically asymptomatic. One hundred healthy age-matched subjects were selected as control group. Testicular microlithiasis was found in 16 patients and 1 individual in control group (12.1 vs 1 %; p = 0.003). Testicular microlithiasis was associated with age and high serum ferritin levels, but there was no association between Ca, Ph, and PTH levels; blood transfusion; and oral or subcutaneous iron chelation therapy. Also, there was no significant correlation between hyperparathyroidism, history of viral hepatitis, and splenectomy with testicular microlithiasis. The frequency of testicular microlithiasis in ß-thalassemia major patients was higher than previously reported. A correlation was found between testicular microlithiasis with age and serum ferritin levels, so regular and adequate iron chelator therapy (at least 10-12 h per day for 5-6 days a week) is recommended. We suggest a close observation and treatment with iron-chelating agents of these patients. Since testicular microlithiasis is occasionally associated with germ cell tumors, clinical and sonographic follow-up is recommended.

Assessment and follow-up of patency after lymphovenous microsurgery for treatment of secondary lymphedema in external male genital organs.

Secondary lymphedema of external male genital organs is a frequent complication of pelvic radical surgery following pelvic lymphadenectomy. Microsurgical lymphovenous anastomoses are usually performed using only the superficial scrotal lymphatics, excluding testicular lymphatic drainage. We have experimented using a new microsurgical technique based on lymphovenous anastomosis between the collectors of the spermatic funiculus and the veins of the pampiniform plexus, allowing testicular lymphatic drainage. The study included 11 patients with external genital organ lymphedema, five of whom were subjected to microsurgical lymphovenous derivation. At 3, 6, and 12 mo after surgery, the patency of lymphovenous anastomoses was assessed by noninvasive lymphography using indocyanine green fluorescence images obtained with the Photodynamic Eye (PDE) infrared camera system (Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., Hamamatsu, Japan). Progressive improvement of clinical conditions was assessed both by patients' self evaluation and by objective clinical follow-up based on: (1) PDE lymphography, (2) tomography of the pubic area, (3) recovery of the soft consistency of the scrotal tissue, (4) recovery of the scrotal skin normochromic aspect, (5) absence of pain, and (6) disappearance of edema with evident reduction of the scrotal and penile dimensions and normal palpability of the testis. The present study shows that lymphovenous anastomosis is a valuable method of resolving the edematous condition. The indocyanine green approach for lymphangiography is a very supportive method during follow-up because, with the least invasive approach, it is possible to ascertain the complete patency of the anastomosis, to confirm its localization, and to assess its lymphatic drainage.

Manual reduction of torsion of an intrascrotal appendage under ultrasonographic monitoring.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of manual reduction of torsion of an intrascrotal appendage under ultrasonographic monitoring. METHODS: Fifteen boys with torsion of an intrascrotal appendage, confirmed by scrotal ultrasonography and clinical status, were included in the study. The boys were 6 to 13 years old (mean age, 9 years). They all had painful, unilateral swelling of the scrotum and a palpable, tender nodule on physical examination. Scrotal ultrasonography indicated a single, variably echoic mass corresponding to the intrascrotal appendage. The mass was avascular according to Doppler ultrasonography. Thirteen boys underwent manual reduction under ultrasonographic monitoring. We tried to pull and release the swollen appendage in 8 patients and gently squeezed the appendage in 5. The procedure was considered successful when ultrasonography showed reperfusion in the appendage and the patients stated complete relief of scrotal pain. In 14 boys, follow-up scrotal ultrasonography was performed after the manual reduction. RESULTS: Successful reduction was obtained in 12 (80.0%) of 15 boys. Only 1 boy was regarded as having reduction failure; this patient had intractable pain after the trial reduction, and ultrasonography showed transient vascular flow that promptly disappeared in the appendage. On follow-up ultrasonography, the maximal diameter +/- SD of the intrascrotal appendages significantly decreased from 6.1 +/- 1.2 to 4.0 +/- 1.3 (P=.005) in 11 patients with successful reduction. CONCLUSIONS: Manual reduction under ultrasonographic monitoring seems to be a feasible and effective method for the treatment of torsion of an intrascrotal appendage to immediately relieve pain.

Effects of micronised purified flavonoid fraction on pain, spermiogram and scrotal color Doppler parameters in patients with painful varicocele.

PURPOSE: Micronised purified flavonoid fraction (MPFF) is a phlebotropic drug improving venous tone, elasticity and lymphatic drainage, decreasing venous distensibility, venous emptying times, reflux time of venous blood and capillary hyperpermeability, and having antioxidant activities. Since varicocele is a venous pathology, we evaluated the effects of MPFF on pain, spermiogram and color Doppler parameters in patients with painful varicocele. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Semen analyses and Doppler sonography were performed in 16 patients (aged 20-62 years, mean 31.2 +/- 10.9) before and after 1,000 mg/day MPFF treatment. Pain change was assessed with visual analogue scale scored between 0 and 10. Patient satisfaction with outcome and side effects were recorded. RESULTS: Mean pain scores at 1, 3, and 6 months were 1.25 +/- 1.34, 0.25 +/- 0.68, and 0.12 +/- 0.34, respectively, all being significantly lower (p < 0.001 for each) than baseline (4.93 +/- 1.77). Mean score at 12 months (0.93 +/- 1.06) was still lower than baseline (p < 0.001) but higher than at 6 months (p = 0.019). Respectively, 14 (87.5%) and 2 (12.5%) patients reported complete and very significant resolution of pain at the 6th month. All patients were very satisfied with the outcome. While semen volume, total sperm count, sperm concentration and morphology did not change significantly, motility increased significantly (p = 0.009) due to decrease of grade 0 sperms (p = 0.006) and increase of grade 3 + 4 sperms (p < 0.001). Reflux time of left spermatic vein during the Valsalva maneuver decreased significantly (p = 0.003). No significant change occurred in reflux time of the right spermatic vein. No side effect was recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this preliminary study suggest the safety and efficacy of MPFF in the treatment of varicocele-associated pain. However, no recommendation for the use of MPFF in the treatment of pain associated with varicocele can be made before these preliminary results are confirmed by a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Bilateral varicocele repair by transscrotal extratunica vaginalis procedure in outpatients: a novel technique.

PURPOSE: A new technique is proposed to repair bilateral varicocele using local anesthesia and a single scrotal incision in outpatients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-three patients with bilateral varicocele underwent bilateral ligation of the spermatic veins by median transscrotal procedure. The veins of the anterior and posterior pampiniform plexus were ligated and sectioned bilaterally. RESULTS: Optical magnification of the area spared the testicular artery. CONCLUSIONS: These results and the minimal invasiveness of the method described offer a valid alternative to double-access surgery for cases of bilateral varicocele.