What Researchers Did
Researchers retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 15 male infertility patients who received hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in addition to assisted reproductive technologies between 2015 and 2019.
What They Found
Overall, 3 (30%) healthy pregnancies were achieved among the 10 patients who underwent assisted reproductive procedures. For the 9 patients with measurable sperm, mean sperm count increased from 8.4 mil/mL before HBOT to 15.7 mil/mL after HBOT, and 4 out of 5 (80%) azoospermic patients showed positive changes in TESE results.
Canadian Relevance
There is no direct Canadian connection to this study, as it was conducted in Turkey.
Study Limitations
The study's retrospective design and very small sample size (15 patients) significantly limit the generalizability and strength of its findings.