Determining the effect of seminal plasma supplementation on sperm motility in males with asthenozoospermia: a systematic review protocol.

INTRODUCTION

Male infertility, defined as the inability to impregnate a fertile female, arises from various factors, among which sperm motility plays a pivotal role in determining reproductive potential. Seminal plasma, a complex fluid comprising diverse proteins, serves to nourish and support sperm, thereby facilitating their function within the female reproductive tract for successful conception. Normozoospermia denotes normal sperm motility in males, whereas asthenozoospermia indicates reduced sperm motility. This review seeks to assess the feasibility of augmenting sperm motility in men with asthenozoospermia through supplementation with seminal plasma or specific seminal plasma proteins.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

A systematic literature review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines will be conducted. PubMed and Google Scholar databases will be systematically searched using predefined keywords and Boolean operators. The search strategy will encompass terms related to asthenozoospermia, normozoospermia, seminal plasma proteins, sperm motility and sperm movement. Additionally, reference lists of relevant articles will be scrutinised for additional studies. Inclusion criteria will encompass human studies published as original research articles between 2019 and 2023. Data extraction will be performed using a standardised form, encompassing author details, country of origin, publication year, study design, participant characteristics, outcomes and conclusions. The risk of bias within the selected studies will be evaluated using the Robvis visualisation tool.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval is not required for this systematic review. The findings will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal and presentation at relevant conferences.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42024526439.