World Journal of Mens Health最新文献

{"title":"Quality and Readability Analysis of Artificial Intelligence-Generated Medical Information Related to Prostate Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study of ChatGPT and DeepSeek.","authors":"Zhao Luo, Chuan Lin, Tae Hyo Kim, Yu Seob Shin, Sun Tae Ahn","doi":"10.5534/wjmh.250144","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5534/wjmh.250144","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Artificial intelligence (AI) tools have demonstrated considerable potential for the dissemination of medical information. However, variability may exist in the quality and readability of prostate-cancer-related content generated by different AI platforms. This study aimed to evaluate the quality, accuracy, and readability of prostate-cancer-related medical information produced by ChatGPT and DeepSeek.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Frequently asked questions related to prostate cancer were collected from the American Cancer Society website, ChatGPT, and DeepSeek. Three urologists with over 10 years of clinical experience reviewed and confirmed the relevance of the selected questions. The Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Printable Materials (PEMAT-P) was used to assess the understandability and actionability of AI-generated content. The DISCERN instrument was used to evaluate the quality of the treatment-related information. Additionally, readability was assessed using four established indices: Automated Readability Index (ARI), Flesch Reading Ease Score, Gunning Fog Index, and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>No statistically significant differences were observed between ChatGPT and DeepSeek in PEMAT-P scores (70.66±8.13 <i>vs</i>. 69.35±8.83) or DISCERN scores (59.07±3.39 <i>vs</i>. 58.88±3.66) (p>0.05). However, the ARI for DeepSeek was higher than that for ChatGPT (12.63±1.42 <i>vs</i>. 10.85±1.93, p<0.001), indicating greater textual complexity and reading difficulty.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>AI tools, such as ChatGPT and DeepSeek, hold significant potential for enhancing patient education and disseminating medical information on prostate cancer. Nevertheless, further refinement of content quality and language clarity is needed to prevent potential misunderstandings, decisional uncertainty, and anxiety among patients due to difficulty in comprehension.</p>","PeriodicalId":54261,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Mens Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145233894","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhancing Statistical Competence in Andrology: Outcomes of an Online Medical Statistics Training Program.","authors":"Nicolás Garrido, Asli Metin Mahmutoglu, Bahadir Sahin, Durairajanayagam Damayanthi, Rossella Cannarella, Ayad Palani, Ashok Agarwal","doi":"10.5534/wjmh.250161","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5534/wjmh.250161","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study evaluates the impact of a structured online medical statistics webinar on researchers in andrology, both clinicians and non-clinicians. The objectives were to: 1) emphasize the critical role of statistical literacy in medical and biomedical research, 2) evaluate participants' baseline knowledge, 3) determine the impact of the webinar on knowledge acquisition and satisfaction, and 4) analyze the influence of gender and institutional setting on learning outcomes.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>The Global Andrology Forum (GAF) conducted a webinar comprising four expert-led lectures on medical statistics and male infertility research. Participants completed three online surveys evaluating baseline characteristics, pre- and post-course knowledge, and satisfaction.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Post-webinar analysis showed a significant improvement in statistical knowledge, with the mean percentage of correct responses rising from 55.6% (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 51.35-59.86) to 66.8% (95% CI: 62.48-71.14) (p<0.05). Female participants demonstrated over twice as much a greater average score increase (16.1) compared to males (7.9), though the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.092). Participants from public institutions showed the most substantial improvement (p<0.001), while private sector participants had a more modest and non-significant increase (p=0.054). Overall satisfaction was high, with 77.6% of participants indicating that they would recommend the course to their colleagues.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This structured online webinar significantly improved the participants' statistical knowledge, highlighting the importance of such training in medical research. The high levels of participant satisfaction and positive feedback regarding the course underscore the webinar's success. This study highlights the potential for future targeted online statistical educational initiatives and the need for such training for researchers in andrology and biomedicine.</p>","PeriodicalId":54261,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Mens Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145233560","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative Trends in the Treatment of Male Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in South Korea and the United States of America (USA) Based on Korean National Health Insurance Data.","authors":"Hyun Cheol Jeong, Han Kyu Chae, Ji-Yeon Han, Kyungtae Ko, Dae Yul Yang, Myungchan Park, Mahadevan Raj Rajasekaran","doi":"10.5534/wjmh.250173","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5534/wjmh.250173","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>With increasing life expectancy worldwide, many patients experience non-life-threatening yet debilitating conditions that affect their quality of life. Among these, lower urinary tract symptoms, a representative urologic disease in men, continue to affect a significant number of aging males in the era of population aging. South Korea and the United States have distinct healthcare systems with notable advantages and limitations. This article aimed to analyze current treatment trends in South Korea using the National Health Insurance Database and compare them with United States trends through literature reviews.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>We obtained statistical medical data using the Korean Healthcare Big Data Opening System provided by the Korea Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Data were collected across four categories: medical treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), surgical treatment for BPH, overactive bladder (OAB), and nocturia. The collected data were analyzed based on annual patient cases, medical expenses, age distribution, and prescribed medications.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Medical expenses for BPH surged significantly from $165 million in 2019 to $266 million in 2023. Although medication prescriptions followed a similar upward trend, the increase in surgical procedures was relatively modest. For OAB, medical costs have also shown a sharp rise, from $40 million in 2019 to $59 million in 2023, with a proportional increase in prescription volume. Regarding nocturia, anticholinergics (32.7%) and alpha-blockers (31.3%) were the most frequently prescribed medications, whereas desmopressin accounted for 19.9%.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>It is essential to acknowledge the treatment disparities arising from differences in the healthcare systems of the United States and Korea and to adopt a patient-centered approach that prioritizes health in various contexts. A gradual transition toward developing a patient-centered and progressive healthcare system is imperative globally to address these disparities.</p>","PeriodicalId":54261,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Mens Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145233592","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy and Safety of Coenzyme Q10 in Idiopathic Male Infertility: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials.","authors":"Syarif Bakri, Ramadan Saleh, Selahittin Cayan, Ponco Birowo, Widi Atmoko, Ahmad Taufik Fadillah Zainal, Moh Anfasa Giffari Makkaraka, Ashok Agarwal","doi":"10.5534/wjmh.250159","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5534/wjmh.250159","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Despite numerous studies on coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) as a treatment for idiopathic male infertility (IMI), clear clinical guidance remains lacking. This systematic review and meta-analysis (SRMA) aimed to evaluate the efficacy of CoQ10 and determine the optimal dose, formulation, and treatment duration compared to placebo or other therapies.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>We searched PubMed, Science Direct, and Cochrane Library using relevant keywords to identify studies assessing CoQ10's effects on sperm parameters, seminal CoQ10 levels, and clinical pregnancy rates in men with IMI. Study quality was assessed using the Revised Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (RoB2), and meta-analyses were conducted using Review Manager 5.4. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024513515).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Nine studies comprising 781 participants (430 treatment, 351 control) met the inclusion criteria. CoQ10 supplementation significantly improved sperm concentration (mean differences [MD]: 10.22×10⁶/mL [3.51-16.93], p=0.003), seminal volume (MD: 0.17 mL [0.03-0.31], p=0.02), total sperm motility (MD: 4.95% [1.15-8.75], p=0.01), and seminal CoQ10 levels (MD: 37.04 ng/ml [31.24-42.84], p<0.001). It also significantly increased clinical pregnancy odds (odds ratio: 6.02 [1.97-18.41], p=0.002). Subgroup analysis showed that treatment duration >3 months significantly improved sperm morphology (p<0.05). Three studies reported no adverse effects, while one noted mild, transient side effects.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>CoQ10 supplementation in men with IMI significantly improves semen quality, seminal CoQ10 levels, and clinical pregnancy rates, particularly when used for over 3 months. CoQ10 therapy in infertile men with IMI is generally safe, whether used alone or in combination with other antioxidants.</p>","PeriodicalId":54261,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Mens Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144978603","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development of a Noble On-Site Dual Screening System for Male Fertility of Sperm Count and Hyaluronidase Activity.","authors":"Jisuk Lee, Seung-Hun Song, Jin Hyun Jun, Il-Hoon Cho","doi":"10.5534/wjmh.250110","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5534/wjmh.250110","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To develop a noble on-site dual screening system for sperm concentration and hyaluronidase (HAdase) activity of male fertility based on lateral-flow assay methods, and to evaluate the effectiveness of this dual screening system.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A chromogenic reaction for sperm count was established using a sperm-specific antibody against sperm antigen-10 (SP-10). Substrate-enzyme reaction was developed in which the activity of sperm HAdase on hyaluronic acid (HA) substrates could be measured through a color reaction. The colored HA substrates were degraded and the color faded by the sperm HAdase. To evaluate the validity of the developed methods, the results were compared using 49 semen samples (normozoospermia, 20; oligozoospermia, 9; azoospermia, 20) whose sperm counts were confirmed by the conventional method.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Using color reaction by SP-10, no signal was observed in azoospermia and low count of sperm (<16×10⁶/mL), and the color signal increased as the count of sperm increased in normal and high count of sperm (≥16×10⁶/mL). The assay system for sperm HAdase activity was successfully developed. In the HAdase assay, the stronger the enzyme activity, the lower the color signal. Through statistical analysis, it was confirmed that there was a statistically significant correlation between sperm count and HAdase activity.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>It was successfully developed that a novel on-site dual screening system for sperm count and HAdase activity, simultaneously. We are expecting that this novel dual assay system will provide the accessible and useful information about male fertility at on-site or home.</p>","PeriodicalId":54261,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Mens Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144978641","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"N6-Methyladenosine RNA Methylation: A Key Regulator in Male Reproductive Disorders and Urological Cancers.","authors":"Xiaopeng Huang, Xiaoya Li, Xiucheng Lan, Meijing Wang, Jingyi Zhang, Liang Dong, Junjun Li, Xujun Yu, Renbin Yuan, Fang Yang","doi":"10.5534/wjmh.250125","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5534/wjmh.250125","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In the field of male health, disorders of the reproductive and urological systems present significant challenges. The global increase in male infertility, primarily attributed to environmental and lifestyle factors, along with the high incidence of urological cancers, not only places a significant socio-economic burden but also emphasizes the urgent need for in-depth research. Epigenetic modifications, especially N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation, are of great importance in these conditions. m6A, which is regulated by specific \"writer\", \"eraser\", and \"reader\" proteins, has an impact on various RNA-related processes. This review summarizes the regulatory functions of m6A in male reproductive health and urological cancers. In male reproduction, it explores how m6A affects somatic cell functions, steroidogenesis, and the blood-testis barrier. It also delves into its role in diabetic erectile dysfunction and benign prostatic hyperplasia. In urological cancers, the review examines m6A's influence on metabolic reprogramming, programmed cell death, and tumor immunity. Furthermore, this review discusses the potential of targeting m6A as a therapeutic approach for these conditions. By integrating recent research findings, it offers new perspectives on the role of m6A in male reproductive and urological disorders, laying a foundation for future research.</p>","PeriodicalId":54261,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Mens Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144978727","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the Causal Association Between Erectile Dysfunction and Brain Cortical Structure: Insight from a Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Study and Cross-Sectional Neuroimaging Study.","authors":"Wei Wang, Bowen Tang, Sushun Yuan, Hongchen Luan, Hengjun Xiao, Jiuxing Liang, Jun Chen","doi":"10.5534/wjmh.250060","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5534/wjmh.250060","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aims to investigate the bidirectional causal relationship between erectile dysfunction (ED) and cerebral cortical structure.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This study employed bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) framework. Exposure and outcome data were derived from genome-wide association study (GWAS) datasets. The MR analysis incorporated inverse variance weighted regression as the primary method, supplemented by the weighted median method and MR-Egger regression, to evaluate causal relationships between ED and brain cortical structure metrics, including surface area (SA) and cortical thickness (TH). Cerebral cortical morphology in ED patients was assessed using 3D T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Whole-brain analysis demonstrated no significant association between ED and global SA or TH. Regional analyses revealed that ED was associated with reduced SA of the caudal anterior cingulate gyrus, increased SA of the insula, operculum, pars triangularis, and supramarginal gyrus, as well as increased TH of the insula and decreased TH of the transverse temporal gyrus. Regarding the effects of cerebral cortical characteristics on incidence of ED, TH in the inferior parietal gyrus, medial orbitofrontal gyrus, posterior cingulate gyrus, precentral gyrus and SA of cuneus exhibited significant effects on elevated risk of ED. Furthermore, the structure of insula, pars opercularis and precentral gyrus was further confirmed by MRI as associated with ED symptoms.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>ED has been identified to be associated with structural alterations in multiple brain regions, suggesting potential associations with impairments in cognitive function, regulation of language processing, and sensory integration. Moreover, alterations in cortical structures of specific brain regions may serve as a predictor of ED incidence, offering novel insights for future prevention and therapeutic interventions. Overall, our results indicate the existence of a potential bidirectional interaction between genital sensory pathways and central neurological processes.</p>","PeriodicalId":54261,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Mens Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144978742","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"EGFL7 Inhibits the Immune Response in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer by Deactivating Endothelial Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1.","authors":"Seung Soo Lee, Ji Young Lee, Hyun Jung Lee, Sung-Woo Park","doi":"10.5534/wjmh.250111","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5534/wjmh.250111","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Epidermal growth factor-like 7 (EGFL7) has been implicated in various cancers, but its role in different stages of prostate cancer (PCa), particularly metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the biological function of EGFL7 and its association with immune regulation in PCa.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>We quantified EGFL7 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) levels in serum and prostate tissue specimens from patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), localized PCa, and mCRPC. To explore its functional role, EGFL7 expression was either silenced or overexpressed in DU145 and PC3 cells using siRNA or pCMV-GFP, respectively. Xenograft experiments were conducted in nude mice using transfected DU145/PC3 cells, followed by post-hoc microarray analysis of tumor tissues.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our findings revealed that EGFL7 expression was significantly higher in both serum and tumor tissues of mCRPC patients compared to those with BPH or localized PCa. ICAM-1 levels were inversely correlated with EGFL7 expression. Knockdown of EGFL7 in DU145 cells suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while <i>in vivo</i> studies demonstrated that EGFL7 silencing inhibited tumor growth and increased ICAM-1 expression along with CD4/8 lymphocyte infiltration. Conversely, overexpression of EGFL7 in PC3 cells promoted tumor progression and reduced ICAM-1 levels.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings suggest that EGFL7 overexpression in mCRPC suppresses immune cell infiltration by downregulating endothelial ICAM-1. Our study highlights the potential of EGFL7 as a therapeutic target in advanced PCa.</p>","PeriodicalId":54261,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Mens Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144978666","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mendelian Randomization Analysis Reveals Iron as a Potential Contributor to Male Infertility.","authors":"Yiwei Gu, Hui Zhuo","doi":"10.5534/wjmh.250072","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5534/wjmh.250072","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study explores whether certain trace elements are genetically linked to male infertility by using large-scale genetic data and a method called Mendelian randomization (MR), which helps infer causal relationships.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>We obtained genetic data related to trace minerals and iron metabolism from three databases: the IEU Open GWAS, UK Biobank, and FinnGen Biobank. We used standard MR analysis tools to evaluate the relationship between genetic variants associated with trace elements and the risk of male infertility. The main analysis was performed using a statistical approach called the inverse variance-weighted method. Heterogeneity, horizontal pleiotropy, and potential outliers in the MR analysis results were evaluated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The analysis suggested that higher genetically predicted iron levels may increase the risk of male infertility (odds ratio, 2.917; 95% confidence interval: 1.232-6.911; p=0.015). No similar associations were found for other elements such as copper, selenium, zinc, potassium, magnesium, calcium, ferritin, transferrin saturation, or total iron-binding capacity. The results were consistent across different analyses, with no signs of bias or genetic confounding.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study provides genetic support for a possible causal role of iron in male infertility. Further research, including clinical and experimental studies, is needed to confirm these findings.</p>","PeriodicalId":54261,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Mens Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144978650","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seminal Plasma Exosomes in Male Infertility: Roles, Mechanisms, and Applications-A Double-EdgedSword.","authors":"Meijing Wang, Xiaoya Li, Xiucheng Lan, Junjun Li, Liang Dong, Fang Yang, Degui Chang, Xujun Yu","doi":"10.5534/wjmh.250115","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5534/wjmh.250115","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Exosomes, which are membrane-bound vesicles with diameters of 30 to 150 nanometers, are secreted by nearly all cell types and serve as key mediators of intercellular communication. In the male reproductive system, exosomes originating from reproductive glands, including the testes, epididymis, and prostate, transport proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, thereby regulating sperm function, maturation, and fertilization. Exosomes facilitate intercellular communication by transporting bioactive molecules (particularly microRNAs), and are instrumental in sperm maturation, motility, and fertilization capacity. However, exosomes exhibit dual roles in male reproductive processes, as their mechanisms of action are highly context-dependent, depending on the molecules they carry and the microenvironment in which they function. This review aims to summarize the dual regulatory functions of seminal plasma exosomes in male infertility, with a focus on their roles in spermatogenesis, sperm maturation, and fertilization. Furthermore, the potential of exosomes as biomarkers for diagnosing and treating male infertility is examined. Despite the promising application of exosomes in male reproductive health, further studies are required to elucidate their mechanisms, offering new perspectives for precise interventions in male infertility and enhancing assisted reproductive technologies.</p>","PeriodicalId":54261,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Mens Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144978653","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}