{
  "abstract": "Male factor infertility contributes to approximately 50% of reproductive failure in couples worldwide. We conducted a narrative critical review synthesizing evidence from systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, and clinical practice guidelines on reversible and irreversible causes of male infertility, examining hormonal, surgical, pharmacological, lifestyle, and drug-induced etiologies. The majority of identifiable etiologies demonstrate some degree of reversibility. Varicocele (prevalence 25–40% in infertile men) achieves natural pregnancy rates of 30–40% after varicocelectomy. Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism responds to gonadotropin therapy with spermatogenesis induction in 90–95% of cases. Obstructive azoospermia achieves ductal patency rates of 85–97% with microsurgical reconstruction. Male accessory gland inflammation is reversible with prompt antibiotic therapy. Spermiotoxic drug exposures—including anabolic-androgenic steroids, sulfasalazine, and chemotherapy—show variable reversibility depending on agent and duration of exposure. Normogonadotropic normotestosteronemic oligozoospermia represents a commonly encountered phenotype that may respond to empirical medical therapy. Lifestyle modifications demonstrate measurable benefits in selected patients. Irreversible causes include Klinefelter syndrome, Y-chromosome AZFa/b microdeletions, and severe post-chemotherapy damage. Systematic andrological evaluation, including comprehensive drug history, is essential to identify treatable causes and guide clinical management.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy"
  ],
  "article_type": "review article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 6,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Sandro La Vignera",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-7113-2372"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Aldo E. Calogero",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-6950-335X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Rossella Cannarella",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-4599-8487"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Andrea Crafa"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Federica Barbagallo"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Rosita A. Condorelli",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-5217-9343"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bf1x9q86eq9f7.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/ijms27208968",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13704615",
  "id": "bf1x9q86eq9f7",
  "issns": [
    "1422-0067"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/20/8968",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2743|Sperm and Testicular Function"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7221117712",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13704615?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13704615",
  "pmid": "42941745",
  "published": "2026-10-09",
  "publisher": "MDPI AG",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bf1x9q86eq9f7.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:55Z",
      "native_id": "10.3390/ijms27208968",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/20/8968"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:22:24Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42941745",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42941745"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2743|Sperm and Testicular Function",
      "subfield": "reproductive-child"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Reversibility of Male Factor Infertility: Mechanisms and Evidence from the Literature",
  "title_text": "Reversibility of Male Factor Infertility: Mechanisms and Evidence from the Literature",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:22:24Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bf1x9q86eq9f7",
  "venue": "International Journal of Molecular Sciences",
  "versions": []
}