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The good, the bad and the ugly: meta-analyses
Madelon Van Wely2014, Human Reproduction
There seems to be a growing negativity toward meta-analyses. Two years ago systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and more specifically Cochrane reviews, were critiqued . In the present issue of Human Reproduction another example of negative publicity toward meta-analyses is published in the form of an Opinion paper . The authors use the meta-analyses that have been published on the value of endometrial scratching in IVF as an example. Meta-analyses-attacking authors in essence argue that meta-analyses should be faultless while meta-analyses are considered to be highest in the evidence-based pyramid. But, as the critics rightfully point out, studies that include meta-analyses are often not without biases. What is going on? Are meta-analyses not as useful as we thought they would be? Are the included studies not good enough?
