In attempting to formulate potential WHO guidelines for the diagnosis of male infertility, the Evidence Synthesis Group noted a paucity of high quality data on which to base key recommendations. As a result, a number of authors suggested that key areas of research/evidence gaps should be identified, so that appropriate funding and policy actions could be undertaken to help address key questions.
The overall objective of this Consensus workshop was to clarify current knowledge and deficits in clinical laboratory andrology, so that clear paths for future development could be navigated.
Following a detailed literature review, each author, prior to the face to face meeting, prepared a summary of their topic and submitted a PowerPoint presentation. The topics covered were (1) Diagnostic testing in male fertility and infertility (2) Male fertility/infertility in the modern world (3) Clinical management of male infertility and (4) The overuse of ICSI. At the meeting in Cairo on 18th February 2019 the evidence was presented and discussed and a series of consensus points agreed.
The paper presents a background and summary of the evidence relating to these four topics and addresses key points of significance. Following discussion of the evidence, a total of 36 consensus points were agreed.
The Discussion section presents areas where there was further debate and key areas that were highlighted during the day.
The consensus points provide clear statements of evidence gaps and/or potential future research areas/topics. Appropriate funding streams addressing these can be prioritized and consequently, in the short and medium term, answers provided. By using this strategic approach Andrology can make the rapid progress necessary to address key scientific, clinical and societal challenges that face our discipline now and in the near future.
Andrology. 2019 Nov 06 [Epub ahead of print]
Christopher Barratt, David Mortimer, Medhat Amer, Elisabetta Baldi, Christopher De Jonge, Mohamed Fawzy, Niels Jørgensen, Csilla Krausz, Ali Mahran, Sarah MartinsdaSilva, Sharon Mortimer, Allan Pacey, Stephen Publicover
Systems Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD19SY, UK., Biomedical Inc., Caulfeild Village, West Vancouver, BC, Canada., Department of Andrology, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt., Department Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy., University of Minnesota Medical Center, Department of Urology and University of Minnesota Diagnostic Andrology Laboratory, Minneapolis, MN, 55454., Ibnsina and Banon IVF Centers Egypt., University Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, GR-5064, Blegdamsvej 9, Denmark., Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy., Dermatology and Andrology Department, Assiut University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt., Department of Oncology & Metabolism, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK., School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.