Table 1 Clinical characteristics of all participants

Age at sample time (years)

24.6 ± 4.9

24.3 ± 5.7

–

Treatment duration(years)

5.3 ± 2.0

–

–

Malpresentation

21/21

Negative

Negative

Obesity

3/21

0/23

BMI ≥ 30

Overweight

8/21

4/23

BMI ≥ 25

Normal

8/21

17/23

BMI ≥ 18.5

Low-body weight

2/21

1/23

BMI < 18.5

Cryptorchidism

1/21

Negative

Negative

Testicular volume(ml)

5.9 ± 2.6

13.5 ± 3.1*

12–20

Azoospermia

7/21

Negative

Negative

Semen non-liquefaction

10/21

Negative

Negative

Semen condensed

9/21

Negative

Negative

Sperm count (million)

20.4 ± 29.4

229.4 ± 118.6*

 ≥ 39

Sperm concentration (million/mL)

8.7 ± 13.2

96.1 ± 55.2*

 ≥ 15

Sperm motility (%)

33.9 ± 28.1

69.7 ± 12.3*

 ≥ 40 (PR + NP)

Seminal fructose (Positive)

21/21

22/22

Positive

FSH(IU/L)

1.29 ± 1.47

6.43 ± 4.34*

1.27–19.26

LH(IU/L)

0.38 ± 0.59

3.59 ± 1.57*

1.24–8.62

T(ng/mL)

1.85 ± 1.03

8.4 ± 12.7*

1.75–7.81

PRL (ng/mL)

14.5 ± 8.6

12.1 ± 6.3

2.6–13.1

E2(pg/mL)

22 ± 13

24 ± 8

 < 39

FT4(ng/dL)

0.75 ± 0.25

1.03 ± 0.56*

0.18–1.89

FT3(ng/dL)

2.53 ± 0.47

2.80 ± 0.71

1.80–4.10

IGF1(ng/mL)

101 ± 62

252 ± 76*

127–424