Appendix 1. MDSG search strategy

From inception to 14 April 2015

Keywords CONTAINS "subfertility‐male" or "idiopathic asthenospermia" or "idiopathic oligozoospermia" or "oligo‐asthenozoospermia" or "Oligoasthenospermia" or "oligoasthenoteratozoospermia"or"oligospermia"or"oligozoospermia" or "asthenospermia" or "asthenozoospermia"or"azoospermia"or"varicocele"or"varicocele‐embolization"or"varicocele ligation" or "varicocele‐outcome" or "varicocelectomized " or "varicocelectomy" or "Male" or "male factor" or "male fertility" or "male infertility" or "male subfertility" or "unexplained infertility" or "unexplained subfertility" or "teratozoospermic" or "sperm damage" or "sperm disorders" or "sperm DNA damage" or "sperm DNA integrity" or "sperm extraction techniques" or "sperm motility"
AND
Keywords CONTAINS "IVF" or "ICSI" or "in‐vitro fertilisation " or "in‐vitro fertilisation procedure" or "in vitro fertilization" or "intracytoplasmic sperm injection" or "intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection" or "superovulation" or "superovulation induction" or "IUI" or "insemination, intrauterine " or "Intrauterine Insemination" or "ART" or "artificial insemination" or "assisted reproduction techniques" or "controlled ovarian hyperstimulation" or "controlled ovarian stimulation" or "COH" or "COH IUI" or "ovulation induction" or "ovulation stimulation" or "timed intercourse" or "expectant management" or "Natural cycle" or "natural cycles" or "coitus" or "wait and see" or Title CONTAINS"IVF" or "ICSI" or "in‐vitro fertilisation " or "in‐vitro fertilisation procedure" or "in vitro fertilization" or "intracytoplasmic sperm injection" or "intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection" or "superovulation" or "controlled ovarian hyperstimulation" (22 hits)

Appendix 2. CENTRAL search strategy

From inception to 14 April 2015

1 exp embryo transfer/ or exp fertilization in vitro/ or exp sperm injections, intracytoplasmic/ (1753)
2 embryo transfer$.tw. (1135)
3 vitro fertili?ation.tw. (1571)
4 ivf.tw. (2386)
5 icsi.tw. (910)
6 intracytoplasmic sperm injection$.tw. (518)
7 (blastocyst adj2 transfer$).tw. (121)
8 exp reproductive techniques, assisted/ or exp insemination, artificial/ or exp ovulation induction/ (2457)
9 assisted reproduct$.tw. (510)
10 artificial insemination.tw. (97)
11 iui.tw. (380)
12 intrauterine insemination$.tw. (489)
13 ovulation induc$.tw. (566)
14 (ovari$ adj2 stimulat$).tw. (966)
15 superovulat$.tw. (154)
16 ovarian hyperstimulation.tw. (668)
17 COH.tw. (162)
18 (ovari$ adj2 induction).tw. (32)
19 timed intercourse.tw. (38)
20 expectant management.tw. (318)
21 natural cycle$.tw. (106)
22 exp Coitus/ (270)
23 coitus.tw. (92)
24 intra‐uterine insemination$.tw. (41)
25 watchful waiting.tw. (226)
26 or/1‐25 (6305)
27 exp male infertility/ (506)
28 (asthenozoospermia or oligospermia or azoospermia).tw. (219)
29 Asthenospermia.tw. (33)
30 Teratospermia.tw. (2)
31 (male$ adj2 subfertil$).tw. (66)
32 (male$ adj2 infertil$).tw. (360)
33 (subfertil$ adj2 men).tw. (22)
34 (infertil$ adj2 men).tw. (142)
35 (male$ adj2 fertility).tw. (59)
36 oligoasthenoteratozoospermi$.tw. (17)
37 (idiopathic adj3 infertil$).tw. (80)
38 (idiopathic adj3 subfertil$).tw. (11)
39 Oligozoospermi$.tw. (99)
40 Aspermi$.tw. (2)
41 Teratospermia.tw. (2)
42 unexplained subfertility.tw. (15)
43 unexplained infertility.tw. (274)
44 or/27‐43 (1183)
45 26 and 44 (553)

Appendix 3. MEDLINE search strategy

From inception to 14 April 2015

1 exp embryo transfer/ or exp fertilization in vitro/ or exp sperm injections, intracytoplasmic/ (33481)
2 embryo transfer$.tw. (8656)
3 vitro fertili?ation.tw. (17653)
4 ivf.tw. (17313)
5 icsi.tw. (5854)
6 intracytoplasmic sperm injection$.tw. (5221)
7 (blastocyst adj2 transfer$).tw. (598)
8 exp reproductive techniques, assisted/ or exp insemination, artificial/ or exp ovulation induction/ (54694)
9 assisted reproduct$.tw. (9783)
10 artificial insemination.tw. (5138)
11 iui.tw. (1280)
12 intrauterine insemination$.tw. (1897)
13 ovulation induc$.tw. (3509)
14 (ovari$ adj2 stimulat$).tw. (5151)
15 superovulat$.tw. (2972)
16 ovarian hyperstimulation.tw. (4003)
17 COH.tw. (1191)
18 (ovari$ adj2 induction).tw. (232)
19 timed intercourse.tw. (108)
20 expectant management.tw. (1780)
21 natural cycle$.tw. (929)
22 exp Coitus/ (6553)
23 coitus.tw. (2519)
24 intra‐uterine insemination$.tw. (185)
25 watchful waiting.tw. (1698)
26 or/1‐25 (83004)
27 exp male infertility/ (23103)
28 (asthenozoospermia or oligospermia or azoospermia).tw. (5858)
29 Asthenospermia.tw. (281)
30 Teratospermia.tw. (143)
31 (male$ adj2 subfertil$).tw. (625)
32 (male$ adj2 infertil$).tw. (8353)
33 (subfertil$ adj2 men).tw. (439)
34 (infertil$ adj2 men).tw. (3434)
35 (male$ adj2 fertility).tw. (4268)
36 oligoasthenoteratozoospermi$.tw. (301)
37 (idiopathic adj3 infertil$).tw. (940)
38 (idiopathic adj3 subfertil$).tw. (62)
39 Oligozoospermi$.tw. (1809)
40 Aspermi$.tw. (220)
41 Teratospermia.tw. (143)
42 unexplained subfertility.tw. (78)
43 unexplained infertility.tw. (1577)
44 or/27‐43 (32348)
45 26 and 44 (7523)
46 randomized controlled trial.pt. (391583)
47 controlled clinical trial.pt. (89189)
48 randomized.ab. (316291)
49 randomised.ab. (62637)
50 placebo.tw. (165382)
51 clinical trials as topic.sh. (172188)
52 randomly.ab. (228234)
53 trial.ti. (136301)
54 (crossover or cross‐over or cross over).tw. (63611)
55 or/46‐54 (994662)
56 exp animals/ not humans.sh. (4023388)
57 55 not 56 (916956)
58 45 and 57 (667)

Appendix 4. EMBASE search strategy

From inception to 14 April 2015

1 exp embryo transfer/ or exp fertilization in vitro/ or exp intracytoplasmic sperm injection/ (55222)
2 embryo$ transfer$.tw. (13466)
3 in vitro fertili?ation.tw. (21550)
4 icsi.tw. (10216)
5 intracytoplasmic sperm injection$.tw. (6647)
6 (blastocyst adj2 transfer$).tw. (1178)
7 ivf.tw. (26204)
8 exp infertility therapy/ or exp artificial insemination/ or exp intrauterine insemination/ or exp ovulation induction/ (80903)
9 assisted reproduct$.tw. (14085)
10 artificial insemination.tw. (4861)
11 iui.tw. (2090)
12 intrauterine insemination$.tw. (2619)
13 ovulation induc$.tw. (4466)
14 (ovari$ adj2 stimulat$).tw. (7397)
15 superovulat$.tw. (3129)
16 ovarian hyperstimulation.tw. (5490)
17 COH.tw. (1597)
18 (ovar$ adj2 induction).tw. (305)
19 timed intercourse.tw. (166)
20 expectant management.tw. (2456)
21 natural cycle$.tw. (1323)
22 exp coitus/ (5440)
23 coitus.tw. (2448)
24 intra‐uterine insemination$.tw. (303)
25 watchful waiting.tw. (2368)
26 or/1‐25 (108525)
27 exp male infertility/ (32048)
28 (asthenozoospermia or oligospermia or azoospermia).tw. (6986)
29 Asthenospermia.tw. (340)
30 Teratospermia.tw. (177)
31 (male$ adj2 subfertil$).tw. (772)
32 (male$ adj2 infertil$).tw. (10861)
33 (subfertil$ adj2 men).tw. (496)
34 (infertil$ adj2 men).tw. (4297)
35 (male$ adj2 fertility).tw. (4919)
36 oligoasthenoteratozoospermi$.tw. (386)
37 (idiopathic adj3 infertil$).tw. (1242)
38 (idiopathic adj3 subfertil$).tw. (72)
39 Oligozoospermi$.tw. (2043)
40 Aspermi$.tw. (195)
41 Teratospermia.tw. (177)
42 unexplained subfertility.tw. (100)
43 unexplained infertility.tw. (2132)
44 or/27‐43 (41854)
45 26 and 44 (11456)
46 Clinical Trial/ (842028)
47 Randomized Controlled Trial/ (366567)
48 exp randomization/ (65714)
49 Single Blind Procedure/ (19913)
50 Double Blind Procedure/ (119287)
51 Crossover Procedure/ (42210)
52 Placebo/ (253674)
53 Randomi?ed controlled trial$.tw. (113414)
54 Rct.tw. (16495)
55 random allocation.tw. (1392)
56 randomly allocated.tw. (21964)
57 allocated randomly.tw. (2006)
58 (allocated adj2 random).tw. (720)
59 Single blind$.tw. (15500)
60 Double blind$.tw. (148801)
61 ((treble or triple) adj blind$).tw. (434)
62 placebo$.tw. (211189)
63 prospective study/ (283895)
64 or/46‐63 (1442620)
65 case study/ (31021)
66 case report.tw. (278028)
67 abstract report/ or letter/ (918503)
68 or/65‐67 (1221392)
69 64 not 68 (1403772)
70 (exp animal/ or animal.hw. or nonhuman/) not (exp human/ or human cell/ or (human or humans).ti.) (5242944)
71 69 not 70 (1348753)
72 45 and 71 (1405)

Appendix 5. PsycINFO search strategy

From inception to 14 April 2015

1 exp reproductive technology/ (1385)
2 in vitro fertili?ation.tw. (568)
3 ivf‐et.tw. (17)
4 (ivf or et).tw. (101465)
5 icsi.tw. (50)
6 intracytoplasmic sperm injection$.tw. (42)
7 (blastocyst adj2 transfer$).tw. (4)
8 assisted reproduct$.tw. (590)
9 artificial insemination.tw. (227)
10 iui.tw. (24)
11 intrauterine insemination$.tw. (19)
12 ovulation induc$.tw. (22)
13 (ovari$ adj2 stimulat$).tw. (49)
14 ovarian hyperstimulation.tw. (10)
15 COH.tw. (75)
16 superovulat$.tw. (5)
17 (ovari$ adj2 induction).tw. (5)
18 timed intercourse.tw. (5)
19 expectant management.tw. (20)
20 natural cycle$.tw. (41)
21 exp "Sexual Intercourse (Human)"/ (12585)
22 coitus.tw. (767)
23 intra‐uterine insemination$.tw. (0)
24 watchful waiting.tw. (117)
25 or/1‐24 (116058)
26 exp Infertility/ (1743)
27 (asthenozoospermia or oligospermia or azoospermia).tw. (38)
28 (male$ adj2 subfertil$).tw. (6)
29 (male$ adj2 infertil$).tw. (165)
30 (infertil$ adj2 men).tw. (73)
31 (male$ adj2 fertility).tw. (125)
32 oligoasthenoteratozoospermi$.tw. (1)
33 Asthenospermia.tw. (2)
34 (idiopathic adj3 infertil$).tw. (12)
35 Oligozoospermi$.tw. (4)
36 Aspermi$.tw. (5)
37 unexplained subfertility.tw. (1)
38 unexplained infertility.tw. (27)
39 or/26‐38 (1930)
40 random.tw. (43215)
41 control.tw. (335612)
42 double‐blind.tw. (18726)
43 clinical trials/ (8513)
44 placebo/ (4032)
45 exp Treatment/ (610630)
46 or/40‐45 (936137)
47 25 and 39 and 46 (180)

Appendix 6. CINAHL search strategy

From inception to 14 April 2015

Appendix 7. Other electronic sources search strategy (PubMed)

timed intercourse; expectant management; natural cycle; intrauterine; intra uterine; intra‐uterine; insemination; inseminate; IUI; artificial insemination; AI; artificial insemination husband; AIH; ovarian hyperstimulation; in vitro fertilization; IVF; intracytoplasmic sperm injection; ICSI; male infertility; male subfertility; oligoasthenoteratozoospermia; oligospermia; asthenospermia; teratospermia; (randomised controlled trial [Publication Type], controlled clinical trials [Publication Type], randomised controlled trials, random allocation, double‐blind method, single‐blind method, clinical trial [Publication Type], clinical trials, (clinical AND trial*)).

Appendix 8. Data extraction table

Type of studies
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) only.

Trial quality
1. Randomisation:

• truly randomised, e.g. blocked randomisation list, on‐site computer system, centralised randomisation scheme, random number tables or drawing lots;

• stated without further description, or not stated.

2. Concealment of allocation:

• adequate (low risk of bias), e.g. sealed opaque envelopes or third party randomisation;

• inadequate (high risk of bias), e.g. open list of random numbers, open envelops, tables;

• stated without further description or not stated (unclear risk of bias)

3. Study design:

• parallel design, cross‐over design or not clear (we included only parallel group studies or pre‐cross‐over data in the meta‐analysis);

• single centre or multicentre.

4. Blinding:

• if appropriate, were the couple, the care provider and the outcome assessor blinded?

5. Analysis:

• by intention to treat (ITT);

• power calculation (prospective power calculation, no power calculation or not stated).

6. Drop‐outs:

• number or percentage of drop‐outs;

• reasons for and details on drop‐outs (selective drop‐out?).

7. Cancelled cycles:

• number or percentage of cancelled cycles;

• reasons for cancelled cycles.

Study participants

8. Prognostic factors:

• type of subfertility;

• woman's age;

• duration of subfertility;

• primary or secondary subfertility.

9. Male subfertility:

• definition;

• number of semen samples

10. Basic fertility work‐up:

• regular menstrual cycles with basal body temperature (BBT) charts, normal mid‐luteal progesterone or sonographic evidence of ovulation;

• patent tubes on hysterosalpingography or laparoscopy, or low risk for tubal pathology according to the medical history (Coppus 2007);

• postcoital test.

11. Previous fertility treatment

12. Exclusion criteria

Type of interventions

13. Comparison of treatment:

• timed intercourse or expectant management (with or without ovarian hyperstimulation (OH));

• intra‐uterine insemination (IUI) (with or without OH);

• in vitro fertilisation (IVF);

• intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

14. Stimulation protocols:

• type and dosage of drugs for mild OH;

• days of ovarian stimulation;

• use and timing of ovulation induction;

• cancellation criteria, risk of multiple pregnancies or ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS);

• use of luteal support.

15. Semen sample preparation techniques:

• amount of semen injected, number of motile spermatozoa;

• method of sperm preparation (washing and centrifugation technique, swim up technique, other).

16. Insemination characteristics

• use of single or double insemination;

• number of treatment cycles;

• actual timing of IUI (time form luteinising hormone (LH) surge, time from human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) administration to IUI).

Type of outcome measures

17. Primary outcomes:

• live birth rate per couple;

• incidence OHSS.

18 Secondary outcomes:

• pregnancy rate per couple;

• incidence of multiple pregnancies;

• incidence of miscarriage;

• incidence of total fertilisation failure during IVF.