The cost-effectiveness of treatments for male infertility

Abstract

The medical management of human infertility is a unique area of clinical medicine. In responding to a biological need, this realm of healthcare has typically grasped new reproductive technology as it develops, and is just now beginning to evolve with the help of rigorous, evidence-based research in cost and efficacy. This review will discuss medical and surgical treatments currently available for male factor infertility and compare their cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness with assisted reproductive technology. The lack of substantive data regarding medical treatments is emphasized, as is the application of decision analysis models to assess the value of complex and costly surgical treatments for male infertility.

Keywords::

• cost-benefit
• decision analysis
• male infertility
• Markov model
• varicocele
• vasectomy

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.