Markov model suggests male-first evaluation may reduce cost and time to pregnancy in varicocele-related infertility
Study · J Urol · 2026-10-24. Number 1 in the UrologyWatch Top 5 for October 25, 2026.
A theoretical discrete-time Markov model comparing four infertility treatment strategies in couples with male varicocele found that male-first evaluation modestly reduced cost and time to pregnancy compared to current practice when repair efficacy was at least 5%, though immediate ART shortened time to pregnancy at 40-80% higher cost.
Why it matters: A modeling study, not clinical trial data, suggesting male-first evaluation could be cost-conscious in select varicocele-related infertility cases pending real-world validation.
Limitation: Theoretical model based on published data inputs and assumptions about repair efficacy, not a clinical trial.
Source: J Urol · PubMed 42912955 · DOI 10.1097/ju.0000000000005351
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