Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Varicocelectomy was considered to be beneficial to patients with varicocele-related infertility. However, there are only a few researchers who have explored the relationship between better timing and postoperative semen improvement in patients.
METHODS: We conducted this meta-analysis by enrolling published prospective studies to find out the best waiting time after varicocelectomy to wait for better improvement of semen quality. An extensive search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library to identify eligible studies. The included studies were then analyzed comprehensively using STATA software and standardized mean differences (SMDs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals were calculated.
RESULTS: Our comprehensive analysis showed that after varicocelectomy, follow-up results within 3 months or longer showed a significant improvement in semen parameters compared to the preoperative period. Notably, no further improvement in semen parameters was observed when the follow-up period reached six months or longer (semen volume: WMD: - 0.07 (- 0.29, 0.16); sperm concentration: WMD: - 1.33 (- 2.33, - 4.99); sperm motility: WMD: 2.31 (- 0.55, 5.18); sperm morphology: WMD: 1.29 (- 0.66, 3.24); sperm total motile count: WMD: 3.95 (- 6.28, 14.19)).
CONCLUSIONS: Three months after varicocelectomy may be the optimal time for semen parameters compared to six months or even longer, which means it is also the preferable time for conception. However, more well-designed prospective studies are needed in the future to validate our conclusion.
METHODS: We conducted this meta-analysis by enrolling published prospective studies to find out the best waiting time after varicocelectomy to wait for better improvement of semen quality. An extensive search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library to identify eligible studies. The included studies were then analyzed comprehensively using STATA software and standardized mean differences (SMDs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals were calculated.
RESULTS: Our comprehensive analysis showed that after varicocelectomy, follow-up results within 3 months or longer showed a significant improvement in semen parameters compared to the preoperative period. Notably, no further improvement in semen parameters was observed when the follow-up period reached six months or longer (semen volume: WMD: - 0.07 (- 0.29, 0.16); sperm concentration: WMD: - 1.33 (- 2.33, - 4.99); sperm motility: WMD: 2.31 (- 0.55, 5.18); sperm morphology: WMD: 1.29 (- 0.66, 3.24); sperm total motile count: WMD: 3.95 (- 6.28, 14.19)).
CONCLUSIONS: Three months after varicocelectomy may be the optimal time for semen parameters compared to six months or even longer, which means it is also the preferable time for conception. However, more well-designed prospective studies are needed in the future to validate our conclusion.
摘要：
背景：精索静脉曲张切除术被认为对精索静脉曲张相关性不孕症患者有益。然而,只有少数研究人员探索了更好的时机与患者术后精液改善之间的关系。
方法：我们通过纳入已发表的前瞻性研究进行了这项荟萃分析，以找出精索静脉曲张切除术后的最佳等待时间，以等待精液质量的更好改善。在PubMed进行了广泛的搜索，WebofScience,和Cochrane图书馆来确定符合条件的研究。然后使用STATA软件对纳入的研究进行综合分析，并计算其相应的95％置信区间。
结果：我们的综合分析表明，精索静脉曲张切除术后，3个月或更长时间内的随访结果显示,与术前相比,精液参数有显著改善.值得注意的是,当随访时间达到6个月或更长时间时，精液参数没有进一步改善（精液体积：WMD：-0.07（-0.29，0.16）；精子浓度：WMD：-1.33（-2.33，-4.99）；精子运动性：WMD：2.31（-0.55，5.18）；精子形态：WMD：1.29（-0.66，3.24）；精子总数：14.19（WMD）
结论：与6个月甚至更长时间相比，精索静脉曲张切除术后3个月可能是精液参数的最佳时间，这意味着这也是受孕的最佳时间。然而,未来需要更多精心设计的前瞻性研究来验证我们的结论.
方法：我们通过纳入已发表的前瞻性研究进行了这项荟萃分析，以找出精索静脉曲张切除术后的最佳等待时间，以等待精液质量的更好改善。在PubMed进行了广泛的搜索，WebofScience,和Cochrane图书馆来确定符合条件的研究。然后使用STATA软件对纳入的研究进行综合分析，并计算其相应的95％置信区间。
结果：我们的综合分析表明，精索静脉曲张切除术后，3个月或更长时间内的随访结果显示,与术前相比,精液参数有显著改善.值得注意的是,当随访时间达到6个月或更长时间时，精液参数没有进一步改善（精液体积：WMD：-0.07（-0.29，0.16）；精子浓度：WMD：-1.33（-2.33，-4.99）；精子运动性：WMD：2.31（-0.55，5.18）；精子形态：WMD：1.29（-0.66，3.24）；精子总数：14.19（WMD）
结论：与6个月甚至更长时间相比，精索静脉曲张切除术后3个月可能是精液参数的最佳时间，这意味着这也是受孕的最佳时间。然而,未来需要更多精心设计的前瞻性研究来验证我们的结论.
