SCROTAL AND ORAL TEMPERATURES ARE NOT RELATED TO SEMEN QUALITY OR SERUM GONADOTROPIN-LEVELS IN SPINAL CORD-INJURED MEN

Scrotal temperature, oral temperature, and the difference between oral and scrotal temperature were measured in spinal cord-injured subjects (SCI) and non-injured subjects as controls. We statistically correlat ed these measures to semen quality and serum gonadotropin levels in bo th groups. No difference was found between SCI and control subjects on any temperature measurement. Mean sperm motility, mean sperm morpholo gy, and mean serum gonadotropin levels were significantly lower in SCI compared to control subjects, but these measures were not correlated to scrotal temperature, oral temperature, or the difference between or al and scrotal temperature in SCI or control subjects. These data indi cate that: 1) there is not a generalized scrotal thermoregulatory dysf unction in SCI men; 2) scrotal temperature does not appear to contribu te to poor semen quality in SCI men; and 3) elevated gonadotropin leve ls are not related to elevated scrotal temperatures in SCI men, as has been reported in non-injured, infertile men.