Fig 1.
An overview of the study design.
SNP, single nucleotide polymorphisms. The solid lines represent the association between the instrumental variables (SNPs) and exposure as well as the association between exposure and outcome. Dash lines with means that the association meets two basic assumption of mendelian randomization: i) the genetic variants (SNPs) are independent of confounders between exposure and outcomes; ii) the genetic variants only influence outcome via exposure. MS and Abnormal spermatozoa reciprocal exposure and outcome.
Fig 2.
Mendelian randomization estimates of the associations from MS on abnormal spermatozoa.
Sensitivity analysis (A), scatter plot (B), forest plot (C), and funnel plot (D) of the effect of MS on abnormal spermatozoa.
Table 1.
MR estimates of assessing the causal association between multiple sclerosis (MS) and abnormal spermatozoa.
Fig 3.
Mendelian randomization estimates of the associations from abnormal spermatozoa on MS.
Sensitivity analysis (A), scatter plot (B), forest plot (C), and funnel plot (D) of the effect of MS on abnormal spermatozoa.