Advances in the Diagnosis and Management of Male Infertility

A special issue of Diagnostics (ISSN 2075-4418). This special issue belongs to the section "Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2024) | Viewed by 4140

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
Interests: male infertility; male sexual dysfunction; female sexual dysfunction; couple sexual dysfunction; andrology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades there have been remarkable strides in the field of male infertility, particularly in developing innovative diagnostic procedures and technologies. These advancements have undeniably brought hope and relief to individuals and couples struggling with fertility issues. Nevertheless, it is imperative to acknowledge that a substantial cohort of patients still suffer from infertility problems despite these significant improvements.

In this Special Issue, we investigate the promising research horizons poised to redefine the landscape of male infertility diagnosis, assessment, and treatment. These groundbreaking developments could enhance our ability to address this complex issue effectively.

While we celebrate the strides made in male infertility diagnosis and treatment, we must remain vigilant in pursuing even more productive solutions. Integrating portable semen analysis, advanced ultrasound technology, and artificial intelligence introduces us to a new era of precision and success in addressing male infertility. These emerging technologies hold the potential to offer renewed hope to those facing the challenging journey of building their families.

Dr. Athanasios Zachariou
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diagnostics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • male infertility
  • andrology
  • reproductive health
  • testis
  • spermatozoa
  • semen analysis
  • TESE, mTESE
  • ultrasound
  • artificial intelligence
  • IVF

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Review

13 pages, 1346 KiB  
Review
Beta-Thalassemia and Male Infertility: Unraveling the Oxidative Stress Connection—An Up-to-Date Review
by Christos Roidos, Christos-Alexandros Batakoias, Evangelos N. Symeonidis, Aris Kaltsas, Vasileios Tzikoulis, Georgios Tsampoukas, Chara Tsiampali, Natalia Palapela, Athanasios Zachariou, Nikolaos Sofikitis and Fotios Dimitriadis
Diagnostics 2024, 14(24), 2789; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14242789 - 12 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1195
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Beta-thalassemia (BTH), a genetic disorder resulting from beta-globin gene mutations, affects over 1.5 million people globally. The disorder’s multifactorial impact on male fertility, particularly through oxidative stress (OS), warrants focused study. This review examines the mechanisms of OS in TM, its implications [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Beta-thalassemia (BTH), a genetic disorder resulting from beta-globin gene mutations, affects over 1.5 million people globally. The disorder’s multifactorial impact on male fertility, particularly through oxidative stress (OS), warrants focused study. This review examines the mechanisms of OS in TM, its implications for male infertility, and the potential of antioxidant therapies to mitigate fertility challenges. Methods: A non-systematic review was conducted using the PubMed, Cochrane, and Medscape databases, focusing on studies on beta-thalassemia (BTH), erectile dysfunction (ED), hormonal alterations, and OS. Studies were screened based on relevance, language, and topic, with 71 articles meeting the inclusion criteria after removing duplicates. Results: The findings reveal that OS, exacerbated by iron overload from regular blood transfusions, is significantly associated with impaired sperm quality and fertility in patients with TM. Iron toxicity affects gonadotropin levels, reduces sperm quality, and contributes to hypogonadism. Additionally, antioxidant therapies show promise in reducing OS-induced sperm damage, though efficacy is limited by a lack of robust clinical trials. Conclusions: OS plays a considerable role in male infertility among patients with TM, primarily through iron-induced sperm damage and hormonal disruptions. While antioxidant therapies may offer a partial remedy, further research is necessary to understand OS’s mechanisms in TM and develop effective fertility treatments. This review highlights the need for personalized antioxidant approaches to improve reproductive outcomes in this population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis and Management of Male Infertility)
Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 226 KiB  
Review
Post-Vasectomy Semen Analysis: What’s All the Fuss about?
by Kareim Khalafalla, Christopher Chee Kong Ho, Eric Chung, Widi Atmoko, Rupin Shah and Ashok Agarwal
Diagnostics 2024, 14(20), 2275; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14202275 - 12 Oct 2024
Viewed by 2364
Abstract
Vasectomy is a reliable male contraceptive method with a success rate exceeding 98%. Despite its efficacy, vasectomy is not foolproof, with potential early and late failures requiring careful postoperative monitoring via post-vasectomy semen analysis (PVSA). Published guidelines emphasize the necessity of conducting PVSA [...] Read more.
Vasectomy is a reliable male contraceptive method with a success rate exceeding 98%. Despite its efficacy, vasectomy is not foolproof, with potential early and late failures requiring careful postoperative monitoring via post-vasectomy semen analysis (PVSA). Published guidelines emphasize the necessity of conducting PVSA to ensure clinical sterility. Despite these clear guidelines, discrepancies in adherence and interpretation persist, with significant mismatches between guidelines and actual practice. Recent shifts in societal attitudes toward reproductive autonomy, spurred by significant political events and socioeconomic factors, have increased vasectomy rates, particularly among younger, childless men. This demographic change calls for enhanced PVSA compliance and clear communication about the non-immediate contraceptive effect of vasectomy. Home test kits have emerged as a convenient, though not always reliable, method for conducting PVSAs, which may require reevaluation in clinical practice. Given the variations across clinical guidelines and the challenges in achieving consistent PVSA outcomes, further research is needed to harmonize PVSA protocols across different health systems. PVSA is typically conducted between 8 and 16 weeks post-vasectomy, depending on the surgeon’s preference. Success is confirmed when a fresh, uncentrifuged sample exhibits either azoospermia, rare non-motile sperm (RNMS), or fewer than 100,000 non-motile sperm per milliliter. This effort will ensure that both patients and practitioners can rely on vasectomy as a safe and effective form of contraception. Effective patient counseling and strategic follow-up are crucial when it comes to managing expectations and ensuring compliance with post-vasectomy protocols, thereby minimizing the risk of unintended pregnancies post-procedure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis and Management of Male Infertility)
Back to TopTop