Mesh Hernia Repair and Male Infertility: A Retrospective Register Study
Hallén M, Westerdahl J, Nordin P, Gunnarsson U, Sandblom G
Surgery. 2012;151:94-98
Summary
Does herniorrhaphy with insertion of mesh have any effect on infertility rates? In this study from Sweden that was based on a hernia registry, the investigators looked at the frequency of infertility in patients undergoing unilateral or bilateral herniorrhaphy performed with or without mesh. Of 2293 patients who were operated bilaterally with mesh implants, 19 were infertile (cumulative incidence, 0.87%). Compared with the background population or with males undergoing hernia repairs without mesh, this rate was not significantly elevated.
Viewpoint
Surgeons used mesh implants for about 85% of the 34,267 hernia repairs in this series, illustrating how common this technique has become. Patients can be reassured that no significant differences were observed in rates of infertility, even after a bilateral hernia repair with mesh insertion.
Abstract