Overview of the Study Characteristics in the Four Studies Included in the Meta-Analysis
| First Author (Year), Country (Reference) . | Study Population, % Male Infertility . | Study Type, Period of Recruitment . | Definition of SCH TSH Assay . | Thyroid Antibodies, Defining TAI Antibody Assays, Cutoff for TAI Positivity . | No. (%) TAI+ Patients, Age (y) a . | No. (%) TAI– Patients, Age (y) a . | ART Details . | Outcomes . | Quality of Evidence b . |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karacan et al. (2013), Turkey (11) | Women with different causes of infertility, 44% male | Prospective cohort, 2009–2012 | TSH > 2.5 mIU/L, enzyme-linked fluorescence assay (Vidas; BioMerieux, France) | TPO-abs and Tg-abs, electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay, TPO-abs > 35 IU/mL, Tg-abs > 115 IU/mL | 34 (13.4), 34.2 ± 4.3 | 219 (86.6), 33.1 ± 3.8 | First cycle, GnRH antagonist protocol ET day 5; number: 1.4 ± 0.8 | NOR, FR, IR, CPR, MR, OPR | 8 |
| Tan et al. (2014), Germany (12) | Women with infertile men, 100% male | Retrospective cohort, 1997–2006 | TSH > 3 mIU/L, automated chemiluminescence immunoassay (ADVIA Centaur, Siemens, Germany) | TPO-abs and Tg-abs, immunometric assay, TPO-abs > 100 IU/mL, Tg-abs > 100 IU/mL | 110 (13.2), 31.5 ± 4.0 | 725 (86.8), 31.3 ± 4.4 | First cycle, long protocol ET day ?; number: 1–3 | CPR, MR, LBR | 7 |
| Lukaszuk et al. (2015), Poland (14) | Women with different causes of infertility, 25% male | Retrospective cohort, 2010–2012 | TSH > 2.5 mIU/L, electrochemiluminescent immunometric assay (Cobas 6000, Roche Diagnostics, Poland) | TPO-abs, electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, TPO-abs > 34 IU/mL | 114 (18.7), 35 (33–38) | 495 (81.3), 34 (32–37) | First cycle, long GnRH agonist protocol ET day 5; number: 2 (1–3) | NOR, FR, IR, CPR, MR, LBR | 7 |
| Sakar et al. (2015), Turkey (15) | Women with different causes of infertility, 50% male | Prospective case-control, 2013–2014 | ? ELISA method (Beckman Coulter, Ireland, Inc.) | TPO-abs and Tg-abs, Coulter diagnostic kits (Beckman Coulter Ireland, Inc.) for TPO-abs, electrochemiluminescence immunoassay method by Cobas 6000 diagnostic kits (Roche Pharma, Germany) for Tg-abs, TPO-abs > 35 IU/mL, Tg-abs > 78 ng/mL | 49 (19.5), 30.7 ± 3.8 | 202 (80.5), 29.5 ± 3.4 | First cycle, GnRH antagonist protocol ET day 3; number: 1 | NOR, FR, IR, CPR, MR, OPR | 7 |
| First Author (Year), Country (Reference) . | Study Population, % Male Infertility . | Study Type, Period of Recruitment . | Definition of SCH TSH Assay . | Thyroid Antibodies, Defining TAI Antibody Assays, Cutoff for TAI Positivity . | No. (%) TAI+ Patients, Age (y) a . | No. (%) TAI– Patients, Age (y) a . | ART Details . | Outcomes . | Quality of Evidence b . |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karacan et al. (2013), Turkey (11) | Women with different causes of infertility, 44% male | Prospective cohort, 2009–2012 | TSH > 2.5 mIU/L, enzyme-linked fluorescence assay (Vidas; BioMerieux, France) | TPO-abs and Tg-abs, electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay, TPO-abs > 35 IU/mL, Tg-abs > 115 IU/mL | 34 (13.4), 34.2 ± 4.3 | 219 (86.6), 33.1 ± 3.8 | First cycle, GnRH antagonist protocol ET day 5; number: 1.4 ± 0.8 | NOR, FR, IR, CPR, MR, OPR | 8 |
| Tan et al. (2014), Germany (12) | Women with infertile men, 100% male | Retrospective cohort, 1997–2006 | TSH > 3 mIU/L, automated chemiluminescence immunoassay (ADVIA Centaur, Siemens, Germany) | TPO-abs and Tg-abs, immunometric assay, TPO-abs > 100 IU/mL, Tg-abs > 100 IU/mL | 110 (13.2), 31.5 ± 4.0 | 725 (86.8), 31.3 ± 4.4 | First cycle, long protocol ET day ?; number: 1–3 | CPR, MR, LBR | 7 |
| Lukaszuk et al. (2015), Poland (14) | Women with different causes of infertility, 25% male | Retrospective cohort, 2010–2012 | TSH > 2.5 mIU/L, electrochemiluminescent immunometric assay (Cobas 6000, Roche Diagnostics, Poland) | TPO-abs, electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, TPO-abs > 34 IU/mL | 114 (18.7), 35 (33–38) | 495 (81.3), 34 (32–37) | First cycle, long GnRH agonist protocol ET day 5; number: 2 (1–3) | NOR, FR, IR, CPR, MR, LBR | 7 |
| Sakar et al. (2015), Turkey (15) | Women with different causes of infertility, 50% male | Prospective case-control, 2013–2014 | ? ELISA method (Beckman Coulter, Ireland, Inc.) | TPO-abs and Tg-abs, Coulter diagnostic kits (Beckman Coulter Ireland, Inc.) for TPO-abs, electrochemiluminescence immunoassay method by Cobas 6000 diagnostic kits (Roche Pharma, Germany) for Tg-abs, TPO-abs > 35 IU/mL, Tg-abs > 78 ng/mL | 49 (19.5), 30.7 ± 3.8 | 202 (80.5), 29.5 ± 3.4 | First cycle, GnRH antagonist protocol ET day 3; number: 1 | NOR, FR, IR, CPR, MR, OPR | 7 |
Abbreviations: CPR, clinical pregnancy rate; ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; ET, embryo transfer; NOR, number of oocytes retrieved; OPR, ongoing pregnancy rate; TAI+, positive for thyroid antibodies; TAI–, negative for thyroid antibodies.
Age expressed as mean ± standard deviation or median (interquartile range).
Based on the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (18).
Overview of the Study Characteristics in the Four Studies Included in the Meta-Analysis
| First Author (Year), Country (Reference) . | Study Population, % Male Infertility . | Study Type, Period of Recruitment . | Definition of SCH TSH Assay . | Thyroid Antibodies, Defining TAI Antibody Assays, Cutoff for TAI Positivity . | No. (%) TAI+ Patients, Age (y) a . | No. (%) TAI– Patients, Age (y) a . | ART Details . | Outcomes . | Quality of Evidence b . |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karacan et al. (2013), Turkey (11) | Women with different causes of infertility, 44% male | Prospective cohort, 2009–2012 | TSH > 2.5 mIU/L, enzyme-linked fluorescence assay (Vidas; BioMerieux, France) | TPO-abs and Tg-abs, electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay, TPO-abs > 35 IU/mL, Tg-abs > 115 IU/mL | 34 (13.4), 34.2 ± 4.3 | 219 (86.6), 33.1 ± 3.8 | First cycle, GnRH antagonist protocol ET day 5; number: 1.4 ± 0.8 | NOR, FR, IR, CPR, MR, OPR | 8 |
| Tan et al. (2014), Germany (12) | Women with infertile men, 100% male | Retrospective cohort, 1997–2006 | TSH > 3 mIU/L, automated chemiluminescence immunoassay (ADVIA Centaur, Siemens, Germany) | TPO-abs and Tg-abs, immunometric assay, TPO-abs > 100 IU/mL, Tg-abs > 100 IU/mL | 110 (13.2), 31.5 ± 4.0 | 725 (86.8), 31.3 ± 4.4 | First cycle, long protocol ET day ?; number: 1–3 | CPR, MR, LBR | 7 |
| Lukaszuk et al. (2015), Poland (14) | Women with different causes of infertility, 25% male | Retrospective cohort, 2010–2012 | TSH > 2.5 mIU/L, electrochemiluminescent immunometric assay (Cobas 6000, Roche Diagnostics, Poland) | TPO-abs, electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, TPO-abs > 34 IU/mL | 114 (18.7), 35 (33–38) | 495 (81.3), 34 (32–37) | First cycle, long GnRH agonist protocol ET day 5; number: 2 (1–3) | NOR, FR, IR, CPR, MR, LBR | 7 |
| Sakar et al. (2015), Turkey (15) | Women with different causes of infertility, 50% male | Prospective case-control, 2013–2014 | ? ELISA method (Beckman Coulter, Ireland, Inc.) | TPO-abs and Tg-abs, Coulter diagnostic kits (Beckman Coulter Ireland, Inc.) for TPO-abs, electrochemiluminescence immunoassay method by Cobas 6000 diagnostic kits (Roche Pharma, Germany) for Tg-abs, TPO-abs > 35 IU/mL, Tg-abs > 78 ng/mL | 49 (19.5), 30.7 ± 3.8 | 202 (80.5), 29.5 ± 3.4 | First cycle, GnRH antagonist protocol ET day 3; number: 1 | NOR, FR, IR, CPR, MR, OPR | 7 |
| First Author (Year), Country (Reference) . | Study Population, % Male Infertility . | Study Type, Period of Recruitment . | Definition of SCH TSH Assay . | Thyroid Antibodies, Defining TAI Antibody Assays, Cutoff for TAI Positivity . | No. (%) TAI+ Patients, Age (y) a . | No. (%) TAI– Patients, Age (y) a . | ART Details . | Outcomes . | Quality of Evidence b . |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karacan et al. (2013), Turkey (11) | Women with different causes of infertility, 44% male | Prospective cohort, 2009–2012 | TSH > 2.5 mIU/L, enzyme-linked fluorescence assay (Vidas; BioMerieux, France) | TPO-abs and Tg-abs, electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay, TPO-abs > 35 IU/mL, Tg-abs > 115 IU/mL | 34 (13.4), 34.2 ± 4.3 | 219 (86.6), 33.1 ± 3.8 | First cycle, GnRH antagonist protocol ET day 5; number: 1.4 ± 0.8 | NOR, FR, IR, CPR, MR, OPR | 8 |
| Tan et al. (2014), Germany (12) | Women with infertile men, 100% male | Retrospective cohort, 1997–2006 | TSH > 3 mIU/L, automated chemiluminescence immunoassay (ADVIA Centaur, Siemens, Germany) | TPO-abs and Tg-abs, immunometric assay, TPO-abs > 100 IU/mL, Tg-abs > 100 IU/mL | 110 (13.2), 31.5 ± 4.0 | 725 (86.8), 31.3 ± 4.4 | First cycle, long protocol ET day ?; number: 1–3 | CPR, MR, LBR | 7 |
| Lukaszuk et al. (2015), Poland (14) | Women with different causes of infertility, 25% male | Retrospective cohort, 2010–2012 | TSH > 2.5 mIU/L, electrochemiluminescent immunometric assay (Cobas 6000, Roche Diagnostics, Poland) | TPO-abs, electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, TPO-abs > 34 IU/mL | 114 (18.7), 35 (33–38) | 495 (81.3), 34 (32–37) | First cycle, long GnRH agonist protocol ET day 5; number: 2 (1–3) | NOR, FR, IR, CPR, MR, LBR | 7 |
| Sakar et al. (2015), Turkey (15) | Women with different causes of infertility, 50% male | Prospective case-control, 2013–2014 | ? ELISA method (Beckman Coulter, Ireland, Inc.) | TPO-abs and Tg-abs, Coulter diagnostic kits (Beckman Coulter Ireland, Inc.) for TPO-abs, electrochemiluminescence immunoassay method by Cobas 6000 diagnostic kits (Roche Pharma, Germany) for Tg-abs, TPO-abs > 35 IU/mL, Tg-abs > 78 ng/mL | 49 (19.5), 30.7 ± 3.8 | 202 (80.5), 29.5 ± 3.4 | First cycle, GnRH antagonist protocol ET day 3; number: 1 | NOR, FR, IR, CPR, MR, OPR | 7 |
Abbreviations: CPR, clinical pregnancy rate; ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; ET, embryo transfer; NOR, number of oocytes retrieved; OPR, ongoing pregnancy rate; TAI+, positive for thyroid antibodies; TAI–, negative for thyroid antibodies.
Age expressed as mean ± standard deviation or median (interquartile range).
Based on the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (18).
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