← all papers · evidence quality (57) Science journalism, not medical advice.
- The Fertility Add-On That Doesn't Add Up2026-07-01
ICSI showed no live birth edge over standard IVF in 1,438 couples without severe male infertility
Does Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Outperform Conventional In Vitro Fertilization in Couples Without Severe Male Factor Infertility? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials infertility male infertility evidence quality systematic review
- OCD Linked to Female Arousal Problems, Not Male2026-06-30
A 13-study review finds OCD symptoms track with female desire and arousal problems, but the male sexual function data is a wash
The interplay between the obsessive-compulsive disorder and sexual function: a systematic review sexual dysfunction mental health systematic review women's health evidence quality
- A Huge Effect Size Nobody Should Trust Yet2026-06-30
Counseling for MS-related sexual problems looks massively effective, but most trials are tiny, unregistered, and from one country
Effectiveness of non-pharmacological treatments for sexual difficulties in adults with multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis multiple sclerosis sexual dysfunction meta-analysis evidence quality
- Shockwave, PRP, Stem Cells: Still Not Proven2026-06-05
ISSM-commissioned review of 36 studies finds mixed, inconsistent evidence for all restorative ED therapies, with 78% of trials failing to report clinically meaningful outcomes
Systematic Review on the Safety and Effectiveness of Restorative Therapies for Erectile Dysfunction erectile dysfunction systematic review evidence quality stem cells
- Male Infertility's Default Drug May Be Wrong for Most2026-06-01
Opinion review argues clomiphene and aromatase inhibitors are empirically prescribed without endocrine phenotyping — and proposes gonadotropins instead
From Tablets to Targeted Therapy: The APHRODITE Era in Male Infertility male infertility hypogonadism spermatogenesis narrative review evidence quality
- 1 in 5 Online Testosterone Clinics Invent Cardiovascular Benefits2026-05-19
253 testosterone clinic websites worldwide: 1 in 4 promote off-guideline treatments, 1 in 5 falsely claim cardiovascular benefits
Discordance Between Online Information and Male Hypogonadism Clinical Guidelines: A Global Multilingual Content Analysis hypogonadism testosterone therapy health services evidence quality
- Lab Mice Can't Fake 30 Years of Kidney Stones2026-05-18
Most kidney stone animal models induce acute disease; human idiopathic CaOx stones develop over decades — a mismatch this review maps out.
Animal Models for Calcium Oxalate Kidney Stone Research kidney stones animal study narrative review evidence quality
- Testosterone Therapy May Raise Fracture Risk2026-05-16
TRAVERSE trial found higher fracture rates in men randomized to testosterone — a result the review calls "unexpected"
Testosterone and Bone Health in Men testosterone testosterone therapy hypogonadism evidence quality
- Exercise Boosts Female Sexual Function—Evidence Weak2026-05-09
Exercise interventions produced a mean 5.31-point FSFI improvement vs. controls (15 studies), but evidence certainty is rated low.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Beneficial Effect of Exercise on Sexual Dysfunction in Women sexual dysfunction systematic review meta-analysis women's health pelvic floor evidence quality
- Your Kidney Doctor Has No Idea You're Drinking That2026-05-07
~20% of kidney stone patients use cranberry extract or ACV; 87% believe them safe, almost none heard about them from a physician
Patient Perceptions of Dietary Supplement Use and Kidney Stone Disease kidney stones cross-sectional health services evidence quality
- Shockwave and PRP for ED? Still Experimental, Review Concludes2026-04-30
Narrative review synthesizes the full ED treatment ladder — prosthetics top 95% satisfaction; shockwave and PRP remain experimental.
Erectile Dysfunction: A Comprehensive Review of Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Contemporary Management erectile dysfunction narrative review penile prosthesis sexual dysfunction evidence quality
- New Penile Cancer Guidelines Still Mostly Guesswork2026-04-27
Updated international penile cancer guidelines lean heavily on retrospective data and expert consensus, not trials
European Association of Urology and American Society of Clinical Oncology Guidelines on Penile Cancer: A Summary of the 2026 Guidelines Update penile cancer evidence quality survivorship quality of life
- TCM Sperm Pill: 56 Animal Studies, 8 Human Trials2026-04-16
A PRISMA-screened evidence map finds mechanistic plausibility but only 8 clinical trials — most evidence is animal data
Multi-component, multi-target actions of Wuzi Yanzong Pill in male infertility: An evidence map linking clinical signals to mechanistic networks. male infertility traditional chinese medicine spermatogenesis oxidative stress evidence quality
- Newer Blood Pressure Drugs May Not Cause ED After All2026-04-09
A narrative review claims newer antihypertensives are ED-neutral or better, but cites no new data of its own
Erectile dysfunction and antihypertensive therapy: A critical reappraisal erectile dysfunction hypertension cardiovascular disease narrative review evidence quality
- Sexual Medicine Has a Pleasure Problem2026-04-02
An editorial argues clinical sexual medicine neglects justice, rights, and pleasure — proposing a shift from fixing dysfunction to enabling well-being
Sexual Health Framing Sexual Medicine: Toward a More Humanistic Framework sexual dysfunction evidence quality women's health health services
- Web Therapy Helps ED—If Men Stick With It2026-04-02
21 studies found online CBT improved erectile function; ED remission rates were 20–30%, but fewer than 60% of participants stayed engaged
Internet-Based CBT and Online Counseling for Male Sexual Dysfunction: Systematic Review erectile dysfunction sexual dysfunction evidence quality
- Pharma Authors Write Fictional Stories, Call It Evidence2026-04-02
Two of four authors work for Viatris — a PDE5i manufacturer — yet COI is listed as "not listed"
Narrative-Based Sexual Medicine: Clinical Vignettes and PDE5 Inhibitor Management in Real-World ED erectile dysfunction evidence quality pharmacovigilance
- Your Antidepressant Has an 80% Sexual Side Effect Rate2026-04-01
Antidepressants cause sexual dysfunction in 25–80% of patients; antipsychotics in 16–60% — and most psychiatrists aren't asking
Psychiatric Disorders, Psychopharmacology and Sexual Dysfunction (ICSM 2024) antidepressants antipsychotics sexual dysfunction evidence quality
- Primary Care Penile Cancer Evidence: Coming Soon2026-03-30
A scoping review protocol — no findings yet — registering plans to map what evidence exists on these cancers in primary care
Strategies for Prevention, Early Detection and Management of Penile and Testicular Cancer in Primary Healthcare: Scoping Review Protocol penile cancer testicular cancer screening health services evidence quality
- Shockwave Therapy for ED: Short-Term Gains Fall Below the Meaningful Threshold2026-03-30
Cochrane review of 21 RCTs finds LiSWT may improve erectile function, but the short-term effect (MD 3.89 points) falls below the 4-point minimal clinically important difference — and all evidence is low certainty.
Low-intensity shockwave therapy for erectile dysfunction: An abridged Cochrane review erectile dysfunction systematic review meta-analysis evidence quality
- Every Common Kidney Stone Fix Has Weak Evidence2026-03-24
31-study review finds "low" strength-of-evidence for nearly every kidney stone prevention strategy, and zero data on surveillance imaging
Prevention of Recurrent Nephrolithiasis in Adults and Children: A Systematic Review kidney stones systematic review evidence quality pediatric urology
- Female Sexual Dysfunction: Still Going Unasked2026-03-24
A PA-focused clinical review covering FSD classification, risk factors, and treatments — no original data, no reported effect sizes
Female Sexual Dysfunction: Screening, Diagnosis, and Management sexual dysfunction women's health evidence quality screening
- China's Math on Male HPV Vaccination Is Clear2026-03-20
Modeling 22 strategies, 20 cleared China's cost-effectiveness bar; vaccinating 14-year-olds with a 4-valent vaccine won
Economic Evaluation of 22 HPV Vaccination Strategies to Minimize the Risk of Penile, Anal, and Oropharyngeal Cancers in Chinese Males: A Markov Model Analysis penile cancer health services immunology evidence quality
- Male Fertility Prevention: Everything but the Numbers2026-03-18
Narrative review maps primary-to-tertiary prevention in male reproductive health — broad scope, no original data, no quantified effect sizes
Preventive Strategies and Biomarkers in Male Reproductive Health from Multidisciplinary Perspective: Narrative Review male infertility biomarkers infertility screening evidence quality
- New Kidney Stone Surgery Bleeds Less, Clears as Well2026-03-12
Meta-analysis of 3 RCTs (n=1,020) finds FANS-RIRS matches mini-PCNL for stone clearance but cuts hemorrhage risk by 92% and shortens hospital stay by 1.75 days
Efficacy and Safety of FANS-RIRS Versus Mini-PCNL for 2–3 cm Renal Stones: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of RCTs kidney stones meta-analysis surgical outcomes evidence quality
- One Surgeon's Opinion Dressed Up as a Literature Review2026-03-12
A "comprehensive" review of varicocele surgery for testicle pain ends in personal opinion, not pooled data
Varicocele repair for chronic orchialgia varicocele testicular disease narrative review evidence quality
- Kidney Stone Genes: Who Actually Needs Testing?2026-03-12
Review finds genetic testing pays off in high-risk cases, but polygenic risk scores remain unproven for most patients
Genetic Testing and Personalized Treatment for Kidney Stone Formers kidney stones genetics genomics evidence quality
- Four Guideline Panels, Four Different Playbooks2026-03-08
Four major urology societies agree on diagnosis basics but split on when to treat and what works—mostly because the evidence is thin.
Guideline of Guidelines: Peyronie's Disease Peyronie's disease evidence quality erectile dysfunction surgical outcomes
- Shockwave ED Stats Look Good. Patients Disagree.2026-03-07
LI-ESWT improved IIEF scores across 19 RCTs, but most studies failed to reach the minimally clinically important difference
A Close Look at the Evidence on Low-Intensity Shockwave Therapy in Erectile Dysfunction — A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials erectile dysfunction meta-analysis evidence quality sexual dysfunction
- Most ED Evidence Is Garbage2026-03-06
95% of treatment evidence rated low or very low quality across 23 meta-analyses
Current treatment for erectile dysfunction: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses erectile dysfunction evidence quality meta-analysis
- Two IPP Brands, One Conflicted Reviewer2026-03-05
Narrative review declares both major IPP brands roughly equivalent — written by an author with industry ties to both manufacturers
Three-Piece Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Implantation in Clinical Practice penile prosthesis erectile dysfunction surgical outcomes evidence quality
- Stone Prevention: APPs In, Oversight Out2026-03-05
Survey of 69 urologists finds APPs handle stone prevention in ~half of U.S. practices, with half those practices reporting no formal physician oversight
Integrating Advanced Practice Providers in Kidney Stone Prevention: Patterns, Barriers, and Opportunities kidney stones health services evidence quality
- Shockwave Therapy for ED Fades After 12 Months2026-03-02
Li-ESWT pushed IIEF-EF from 11 to 21 at 12 months in 188 PDE5-refractory men — but scores slipped to 18 by 18 months
Low-Intensity Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy in Vasculogenic ED Refractory to PDE5 Inhibitors: A Prospective Study with 12- and 18-Month Outcomes erectile dysfunction vascular health evidence quality
- The Infertility Fallback Guide Ferring Helped Write2026-02-19
Industry-sponsored "expert opinion" recommends gonadotropins + hCG luteal support when pulsatile GnRH therapy is unavailable — no original data included
Management of infertility in women with hypothalamic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism: an expert opinion. infertility women's health evidence quality hypogonadism
- AAS and ED: Most Reviews Nearly Worthless2026-02-12
Six systematic reviews on AAS-induced ED: four rated critically low confidence, one low, one medium
Erectile Dysfunction and Related Variables Due to Anabolic Steroid Use: A Review of Reviews erectile dysfunction hypogonadism systematic review evidence quality anabolic steroids
- Menopause Hurts Sex. Here's What Actually Helps.2026-02-04
A Stanford review surveys GSM treatments — hormonal, nonhormonal, and device-based — without reporting a single effect size
The New Toolbox for Reducing Painful Sex in Menopause sexual dysfunction women's health evidence quality menopause
- One in Four "Causative" IHH Variants: Actually Benign2026-01-30
When re-scored by ACMG standards, 26% of reported "causative" IHH/Kallmann variants were benign — and ClinVar confirmed only 18% as pathogenic
Overestimation of Pathogenic Variants in Idiopathic Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism and Kallmann Syndrome genetics genomics hypogonadism evidence quality
- Men Think Average Is Small. Research Agrees They're Wrong.2026-01-20
Only 7 studies exist on this topic — all found men overestimate what's "normal" in size and sexual performance while underestimating their own normalcy
Are Men Aware of Normal Penile Length and Sexual Function? A Narrative Review narrative review sexual dysfunction erectile dysfunction evidence quality
- 67 Sperm Risk Factors, Almost All Weak Evidence2026-01-13
67 risk factors linked to male infertility catalogued — but 78% of the underlying evidence rated low or very low quality
Current Risk Factors for Male Infertility and Semen Parameters: An Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses male infertility semen quality evidence quality environmental exposure systematic review meta-analysis
- 39% of Women in Primary Care Have Sexual Dysfunction2026-01-06
39% prevalence of female sexual dysfunction in primary care — but the evidence base is five years stale
Female Sexual Dysfunction in Primary Care: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prevalence sexual dysfunction meta-analysis evidence quality
- Antioxidants Out, Varicocele Repair In: WHO Rules2026
WHO's first unified infertility guideline backs varicocele repair conditionally but won't endorse antioxidants—evidence too heterogeneous
The WHO 2025 Guideline for the Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Infertility: A Comprehensive Review with Focus on Male Reproductive Health male infertility infertility evidence quality semen quality
- Surgery for Micropenis: Evidence Too Thin to Recommend2026
Narrative review of 36 studies: early testosterone therapy beats surgery for micropenis, but RCT data barely exists
Micropenis in Children and Adolescents: A Narrative Review hypogonadism testosterone therapy evidence quality pediatric urology
- Testosterone Review Skips the Hard Evidence2025-12-24
A non-systematic review says testosterone therapy is safe and effective, but cites no funding or conflicts
Testosterone Therapy in Adult Males with Hypogonadism testosterone therapy hypogonadism narrative review evidence quality
- EAU Panel: Varicocele Surgery for Azoospermia? Evidence Too Weak2025-12-23
EAU guidelines panel finds the evidence for varicocele surgery in nonobstructive azoospermia too weak to support a strong recommendation
Varicocele Treatment in Azoospermia Before Artificial Reproductive Techniques: Critical Considerations by the EAU Guidelines Panel on Sexual and Reproductive Health varicocele male infertility evidence quality narrative review
- Labiaplasty Scores Better Sex on Paper2025-12-13
Pooled data from 6 studies show a moderate FSFI improvement (SMD 0.52) after labiaplasty, but low certainty undermines the finding
Sexual Function After Female Genital Cosmetic Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis meta-analysis surgical outcomes sexual dysfunction women's health evidence quality
- PET Scans Outperform CT for Penile Cancer Staging2025-11-29
Review finds FDG PET/CT beats conventional imaging for lymph node staging in penile cancer, though evidence base remains limited.
The Value of FDG PET/CT in Penile Cancer: An Update penile cancer biomarkers surgical outcomes evidence quality
- Penile Cancer Staging Overtreats 80% of Patients2025-11-20
Review argues current DSNB guidelines trigger full lymph node dissection in over 80% of men who wouldn't benefit from it
Sentinel Node Mapping in Penile Cancer: An Update on Methods and Pitfalls penile cancer surgical outcomes evidence quality biomarkers
- Three Guidelines on Penile Cancer Can't Agree2025-11-19
Three major oncology guideline bodies disagree on lymph node staging and treatment in penile cancer, leaving surgeons without consensus at every decision point.
Penile Cancer and Lymph Node Management: A Call for Standardization penile cancer surgical outcomes narrative review evidence quality
- Sildenafil Beats Tadalafil—But Read the Fine Print2025-11-19
Sildenafil scored higher than tadalafil on satisfaction and hardness in 132,100 real-world patients; vardenafil had the worst side-effect profile (47.4% vs ~34%).
Head-to-head Comparison of the Safety and Efficacy Profiles of Three Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitors through Patient-reported Outcomes of 130 000 Patients from a Direct-to-consumer Platform Database erectile dysfunction pharmacovigilance health services evidence quality
- Suction Scopes Look Promising, Evidence Still Thin2025-11-06
Systematic review of 35 studies finds suction-assisted ureteroscopy improves stone clearance and cuts infection risk, but high-quality evidence is scarce.
Complication Rates and Outcomes of Suction Devices in Ureteroscopy and Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery: A Systematic Review kidney stones evidence quality
- High-Volume Exercise Linked to Bladder Leaks in Men2025-10-21
Scoping review of 10 studies finds LUTS rates up to 18.8% in male athletes, with a strong dose-response correlation (R = 0.87) between weekly exercise volume and urinary symptoms.
Prevalence of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction in Male Athletes and Its Dose-Dependency in High-Intensity Exercise: A Scoping Review erectile dysfunction evidence quality cross-sectional pelvic floor
- No Trials Yet, So Chemo Still Wins2025-10-01
A cancer so rare its "standard" chemo regimen has never been tested against newer immunotherapy in a randomized trial
An update on the pharmacotherapy of penile cancer penile cancer narrative review immunology evidence quality
- One New Implant Fails 1 in 4 Times2025-09-13
Across 30 studies, penile implant removal rates were generally below 10%, but one newer device (Zephyr ZSI 475®) showed a 25.7% early mechanical failure rate.
Removal Rate and Mechanical Failure in Penile Prosthesis Implantation: A Systematic Review penile prosthesis erectile dysfunction surgical outcomes evidence quality
- Smaller Kidney Stone Scope, Same Results, Fewer Complications2025-08-29
UM-PCNL cleared stones as effectively as standard PCNL in 628 patients but with fewer complications and shorter hospital stays.
Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Ultra-Mini-Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy Versus Standard Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy for Renal Calculi: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis kidney stones meta-analysis evidence quality
- Nine Societies, No Consensus on Low Testosterone2025-07-19
Nine major specialist societies disagree on the name, diagnostic cutoffs, and monitoring protocols for male hypogonadism
Variations in Diagnostic Criteria for Male Hypogonadism: Is There a Need for Standardizing Specialist Society Guidelines? hypogonadism testosterone narrative review evidence quality
- Stone Patients Rate Their Pain 7 Out of 102025-07-15
44 UK stone patients rated QoL impact at median 7/10; 82% would take prophylactic medication, but no prevention drug yet has high-quality evidence behind it.
Patients' priorities in kidney stone disease kidney stones evidence quality surgical outcomes cross-sectional
- Glans Removal Outcomes Look Good — If You Squint2025-04-15
14 studies, 327 procedures: 91% retained erectile function after glansectomy, but outcome reporting was too inconsistent to draw firm conclusions
Functional Outcomes of Glansectomy to Treat Localised Penile Cancer: A Systematic Review penile cancer surgical outcomes sexual dysfunction evidence quality