← all papers · meta-analysis (38) Science journalism, not medical advice.
- Clomiphene Matches TRT's Testosterone Boost, Not Libido2026-07-11
Clomiphene raised testosterone about as well as TRT gel in 1,512 men, but libido scores came out lower
Clomiphene citrate versus testosterone replacement therapy in male hypogonadism: a systematic review of literature and meta-analysis hypogonadism testosterone therapy male infertility meta-analysis
- Two-Thirds of Hypertensive African Men Report ED2026-06-30
Pooled data from 3,648 hypertensive African men found 65% report erectile dysfunction, but studies barely agree
Prevalence of erectile dysfunction and its associated factors among hypertensive men in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis erectile dysfunction hypertension meta-analysis epidemiology
- 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
- Routine Kidney Stone Stents: More Pain, No Benefit2026-06-13
32 RCTs and 3,572 patients find routine double-J stenting after ureteroscopy increases morbidity without improving stone clearance
Does Omitting a Ureteral Stent Affect the Outcomes of Uncomplicated Ureteroscopy for Ureteral and Kidney Stones in Adults? Results from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Comparative Randomized Trials by the EAU Endourology Section kidney stones surgical outcomes systematic review meta-analysis quality of life
- Sildenafil Wins — But Viatris Paid For It2026-06-05
Network meta-analysis of 83 RCTs finds sildenafil 100mg has the highest odds ratio (9.06) vs placebo — funded by sildenafil's manufacturer
A Comparative Evaluation of On-Demand Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibitor Efficacy in Erectile Dysfunction Treatment: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Trials erectile dysfunction systematic review meta-analysis pharmacovigilance
- Insulin Pumps May Protect Female Sexual Function2026-05-28
About 1 in 3 women with T1DM has sexual dysfunction — twice the rate of healthy controls, and higher than T2DM
Female Sexual Dysfunction in Type 1 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis diabetes sexual dysfunction women's health meta-analysis systematic review
- Online Sex Therapy: 8 Studies, Mostly Cancer Patients2026-05-11
A meta-analysis of 8 studies and 961 participants — mostly cancer patients — found online CBT and psychoeducation measurably improved sexual function
Online Interventions for the Treatment of Sexual Dysfunctions: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis sexual dysfunction systematic review meta-analysis mental health quality of life
- Exercise Moves the Needle on Prostate Cancer Sex Life2026-05-11
Exercise improved sexual activity (SMD 0.38) and sexual function (SMD 0.32) in prostate cancer patients across 10 RCTs of 558 men
Effects of Exercise on Sexual Activity and Sexual Dysfunction in Patients with Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis exercise prostate cancer sexual dysfunction systematic review meta-analysis quality of life
- Yes, Exercise Helps ED. The Effect Is Modest.2026-05-11
16 RCTs, 1,477 men: lifestyle interventions improved IIEF scores by 2.35 points — statistically significant, clinically borderline.
Efficacy of Lifestyle Interventions in Treating Erectile Dysfunction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials erectile dysfunction systematic review meta-analysis vascular health exercise
- 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
- Half of Cancer Survivors Can't Sleep. Nobody's Asking.2026-05-05
Commentary argues sleep disorders go unscreened in testicular cancer follow-up, citing a meta-analysis finding 60.7% prevalence of sleep disturbance across cancer survivors
Integrating the Relevance of Sleep into Testicular-Cancer Survivorship Care testicular cancer survivorship systematic review meta-analysis
- Lupus Roughly Doubles the Odds of Female Sexual Dysfunction2026-05-04
58.8% of lupus patients screen positive for FSD — 2.6x healthy controls, though extreme heterogeneity muddies the estimate
Prevalence of Female Sexual Dysfunction Among Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis sexual dysfunction women's health immunology systematic review meta-analysis epidemiology
- The Psych Treatment That Works Isn't CBT2026-05-01
Overall effect looks strong (SMD=1.37), but CBT and mindfulness had near-zero effect — counseling and education drove the headline.
Psychological Treatments for Sexual Concerns in Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis menopause women's health sexual dysfunction meta-analysis systematic review mental health
- Robotic Surgery's Edge Over Laparoscopy? Basically Nothing2026-04-27
44 studies, 6,121 patients: robotic rectal surgery shows no consistent advantage over laparoscopy for urinary or sexual function
Comparison of Functional Outcomes Between Robotic and Laparoscopic Surgery in Rectal Cancer Patients: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis surgical outcomes meta-analysis sexual dysfunction robotics
- Silent TB Hides Behind Infertility in 1 in 4 Women2026-04-27
Genital TB found in ~26% of infertile women, with most showing no respiratory symptoms — only infertility
TB Manifests as Infertility: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis infertility systematic review meta-analysis women's health tuberculosis
- AI Stone Predictions Work—Until You Pool Them2026-04-15
Only 5 retrospective cohorts met inclusion criteria; heterogeneity was so extreme the authors declared their own pooled estimates "clinically uninterpretable"
Can AI and Predictive Models Accurately Predict Stone-Free Status? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis artificial intelligence kidney stones systematic review meta-analysis
- Vitamin D Improves Sperm, Not Pregnancies2026-04-13
Vitamin D boosted sperm motility by 6.96% and testosterone slightly, but had no measurable effect on pregnancy or live birth rates (n=1,168)
Vitamin D supplementation in infertile men: a systematic review and meta-analysis of effects on semen quality and endocrine function male infertility semen quality testosterone meta-analysis systematic review
- Sling Surgery Lifts Sexual Function at 6 Months, Then Fades2026-04-09
MUS surgery improved PISQ-12 scores by 4.49 points at 6 months, but the gains largely reversed by 12 months and didn't recover
Impact of Mid-Urethral Sling Surgery on Sexual Function in Women with Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials meta-analysis systematic review sexual dysfunction pelvic floor surgical outcomes women's health urinary incontinence
- 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
- Weight Loss Surgery Raises Testosterone — But Not the Free Kind2026-03-25
21 studies, 695 men: bariatric surgery improved IIEF-5 scores by 6.45 points and raised total testosterone, but free testosterone didn't move
The impact of bariatric surgery on male sexual function: a systematic review and meta-analysis obesity erectile dysfunction testosterone meta-analysis systematic review surgical outcomes
- A Body Measurement Tracks Hypospadias Severity2026-03-21
Boys with hypospadias have shorter anogenital distance (SMD −1.24), with the gap widening as severity increases across 6,905 infants
Association Between Anogenital Distance and Hypospadias: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis hypospadias meta-analysis pediatric urology biomarkers environmental exposure
- Impressive Kidney Stone Numbers, Massive Asterisk2026-03-13
Suction-enabled access sheaths nearly 6x the odds of clearing kidney stones—but 87% heterogeneity makes that number nearly meaningless
Efficacy and Safety of Flexible and Navigable Suction Ureteral Access Sheath Versus Conventional Ureteral Access Sheath in Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis kidney stones meta-analysis surgical outcomes
- 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
- HPV Raises Antisperm Antibodies Tenfold2026-03-11
GU infections were linked to measurable sperm parameter declines, but pregnancy outcomes mostly held — HPV was the outlier, with a tenfold antisperm antibody spike
Impact of Male Genital Tract Infections on Semen Quality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis male infertility semen quality systematic review meta-analysis HPV antisperm antibodies inflammation
- Half of Asthma Patients Report Sexual Dysfunction2026-03-08
Meta-analysis found sexual dysfunction in 54% of asthma patients and 19% with atopic dermatitis
Global Prevalence of Sexual Dysfunction in Individuals With Atopic Dermatitis and Asthma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis sexual dysfunction meta-analysis systematic review epidemiology
- 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
- Dirty Air, Worse Sperm: Meta-Analysis Confirms2026-03-06
Four meta-analyses pooled: air pollution correlates with modestly lower sperm motility, concentration, and morphology
Air pollution and male infertility: A meta-umbrella study of evidence on semen quality male infertility air pollution semen quality meta-analysis
- Lifestyle Trims Help Sperm; Surgery Doesn't2026-03-01
Losing weight may help sperm quality, but the method matters—and most of the evidence is weak
The effect of obesity interventions on male fertility: a systematic review and meta-analysis male infertility obesity meta-analysis
- COVID-19 Damages Sperm. Five Measures Down.2026-03
This meta-analysis of cohort studies found statistically significant reductions in sperm concentration, count, motility, and DNA fragmentation index following SARS-CoV-2 infection.
The Impact of SARS-CoV-2 on Male Infertility: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies male infertility semen quality meta-analysis COVID-19 DNA fragmentation
- Nurse Counseling Barely Moves Prostate Cancer Sex Scores2026-02-27
14-study meta-analysis finds nurse-led psychoeducational programs improve sexual function (SMD=0.31) and satisfaction (SMD=0.27) — effects just clear zero
Cancer Nursing Interventions for Sexual Function and Satisfaction in Men with Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis prostate cancer meta-analysis sexual dysfunction survivorship
- 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
- One Surgery, Three Days Fewer in Hospital2026-01-09
Same-session bilateral kidney stone surgery cut hospital stays by nearly 3 days with no difference in stone clearance or complication rates across 749 patients
One Session or Two? A Meta-Analysis of Same-Session Versus Staged Bilateral Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy kidney stones meta-analysis surgical outcomes
- 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
- 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
- Microplastics Rival Chemo for Sperm Damage in Rats2025-12-05
Network meta-analysis of 201 rodent studies ranks microplastics alongside chemotherapy drugs for reproductive toxicity, with sperm counts dropping to ~19 million/mL
Quantitative Analysis and Toxicological Mechanisms of Various Male Infertility Inducers: A Network Meta-Analysis and Pharmacological Approach male infertility meta-analysis environmental exposure semen quality
- Suction Access Nearly Doubles Stone Clearance Odds2025-08-29
Vacuum-assisted mini-PCNL cleared stones at nearly twice the rate of conventional sheaths across 14 studies and 2,510 patients
Suction in Mini-Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: A Meta-Analysis from the European Association of Urology Section of Endourology kidney stones meta-analysis
- 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