Table 3 The detailed data from the outcomes of the seven RCTs

Bansal 2017 [13]

TAPP VS TEP

80

Testicular volume: pre-operative, TAPP 13.1 ± 1.3, TEP 13.1 ± 1.2; 3 months, TAPP 13.1 ± 1.3, TEP 13.2 ± 1.1, 6 months TAPP 13.0 ± 1.3, TEP 13.2 ± 1.0

Testicular resistivity index: pre-operative, TAPP 0.64 ± 0.06, TEP 0.61 ± 0.07; 3 months, TAPP 0.634 ± 0.06, TEP 0.6 ± 0.07, 6 months TAPP 0.63 ± 0.06, TEP 0.6 ± 0.07

Serum FSH: pre-operative, TAPP 3.6 ± 0.8, TEP 3.4 ± 0.8; 3 months, TAPP 3.6 ± 1.0, TEP 3.4 ± 0.8, 6 months TAPP 3.6 ± 0.8, TEP 3.4 ± 0.9

Serum testosterone: pre-operative, TAPP 4.2 ± 1,TEP 4.0 ± 1.2; 3 months, TAPP 4.1 ± 0.9, TEP 4.0 ± 1.3, 6 months TAPP 4.1 ± 1.0, TEP 4.0 ± 1.2

Serum LH: TAPP 7.3 ± 1.1,TEP 7.3 ± 1.7; 3 months, TAPP 7.3 ± 1.0, TEP 7.3 ± 1.67, 6 months TAPP 7.4 ± 1.0, TEP 7.3 ± 1.6

Peeters 2014 [28]

Marlex® VS vyproII®

Marlex® VS TiMesh®

15/10

3 year follow-up: Semen volume (ml): Marlex® -0.07 (− 1.1 to 0.6), vyproII® -0.1(− 1.5 to 0.2), TiMesh®-0.2 (− 0.9 to 1)

Concentration (106 cells/ml): Marlex® -4.4 (− 16.1 to 0.5), vyproII® -5.5 (− 30.8 to 18.8), TiMesh®-1.65 (− 30.6 to 17.1)

Motility (% progression): Marlex® -2.8 (− 18 to 4.3), vyproII® -8.5 (− 23 to 8.5), TiMesh®-8 (− 15 to − 4.5)

a-glucosidase (mU): Marlex® 3.2 (− 15.5 to 6), vyproII® -5.5 (− 13.7 to 0.2), TiMesh® -1.4(− 8 to 1.75)

morphology (% normal): Marlex® -2 (− 16 to 2), vyproII® -2.8 (− 9 to 0), TiMesh® -3 (− 8.5 to 4)

Singh 2012 [29]

Lap VS Open

60

Testicular volume: pre-operative, Lap, 9.8; Open 10.7; 3 month, Lap 9.3, Open 9.2

Resistitive index: pre-operative, Lap 0.64, Open 0.68; 3 month, Lap 0.58, Open 0.65

FSH: pre-operative, Lap 5,Open 5.1, 3 month, Lap 5.1, Open 6.1

LH: pre-operative, Lap 4.4,Open 4.5, 3 month, Lap 4.9, Open 5.4

Testosterone: pre-operative, Lap 5.7,Open 5.2, 3 month, Lap 5.5, Open 4.7

Peeters 2010 [10]

Marlex® VS vyproII®

Marlex® VS TiMesh®

20/19

1 year follow-up: Semen volume (ml): Marlex® -0.05 (− 0.7 to 0.7), vyproII® -0.43 (− 1.3 to 0.3), TiMesh®0.2 (− 0.8 to 0.9)

Concentration (106 cells/ml): Marlex® -9.6 (− 35.5 to 13), vyproII® -1.5 (− 21.5 to 10), TiMesh®2.1 (10.3 to 15.8)

Motility (% progression): Marlex® -2.0 (− 2 to 10), vyproII® -9.5 (− 13.3 to − 1), TiMesh®-5.5 (− 17 to − 2)

a-glucosidase (mU): Marlex® -3.6 (− 7.6 to 9.7), vyproII® -1 (− 3.7 to 3.7), TiMesh® 0(− 6.5 to 1.8)

morphology (% normal): Marlex® 0 (− 4.3 to 5.8), vyproII® -1.8 (0 to − 5), TiMesh® -1.8 (− 6.8 to 5)

Sucullu 2010 [35]

LG VS MPG

32

Testicular volume: pre-operative, LG, 18.92 ± 1.05; MPG, 19.37 ± 1.06 3 months, LG 18.75 ± 1.26, MPG 18.21 ± 1.26

Resistive index: pre-operative,LG,0.64 ± 0.06, MPG 0.60 ± 0.04; 3 months, LG 0.80 ± 0.06, MPG 0.75 ± 0.08

Sperm concentration: pre-operative, LG,88.65 ± 10.30, MPG 75.27 ± 7.03; 3 months, LG 65.48 ± 8.22 MPG 58.87 ± 7.73

Rate of progressive motility: pre-operative, LG 52.79 ± 2.35, MPG 51.64 ± 2.60 3 months, LG 55.54 ± 2.26, MPG 48.53 ± 2.96

Akbulut 2003 [44]

TEP VS LHR

13

3-month. Testicular volume: pre-operative, TEP, 16.33 ± 0.71; LHR 15.44 ± 0.87; 3 month, TEP 16.70 ± 0.88, LHR 14.15 ± 0.96

FSH: pre-operative, TEP 6.47 ± 0.63, LHR 8.47 ± 1.11, 3 month, TEP 6.99 ± 0.86, LHR 9.12 ± 1.57

LH: pre-operative, TEP 4.06 ± 0.40, LHR 5.35 ± 0.57, 3 month, TEP 4.72 ± 0.70, LHR 5.64 ± 0.72

Testosterone: pre-operative, TEP 631.75 ± 60.52, LHR 544.48 ± 36.26, 3 month, TEP 672.00 ± 62.99, LHR 510.64 ± 39.71

Aydede 2003 [45]

TFR VS PPMR

30

peak systolic velocity (PSV):pre-operative TFR 11.1303 ± 0.6952, PPMR 10.25.20 ± 0.5033; 2.5 months, TFR 10.8400 ± 0.7084 PPMR 10.4890 ± 0.5194

end diastolic velocity (EDV): pre-operative TFR 3.1257 ± 0.1995, PPMR 3.0287 ± 0.5648; 2.5 months, TFR 1.4267 ± 6.544 PPMR 1.2957 ± 8.842

pulsatility index (PI): pre-operative TFR 1.3753 ± 9.177,PPMR 1.3460 ± 0.1082; 2.5 months,TFR 0.7193 ± 1.294 PPMR 0.6930 ± 1.887

resistivity index (RI): pre-operative TFR 0.6960 ± 2.192, PPMR 0.6867 ± 2.267; 2.5 months, TFR 2.8400 ± 0.1973 PPMR 3.0163 ± 0.1880