SERA GONADOTROPINS, TESTOSTERONE, AND PROLACTIN LEVELS IN MEN WITH OLIGOZOOSPERMIA OR ASTHENOZOOSPERMIA

Many previous studies evaluating various hormone levels in males with subnormal semen analyses were performed when the normal semen paramete rs were considerably higher than now. This study evaluated sera levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), tota l testosterone (TET), free TET, and prolactin (PRL) in 60 males with o ligospermia and decreased motility according to recent World Health Or ganization standards. Three separate groups were evaluated: group 1, m otile density (MD) < 5 x 10(6)/mL (but not azoospermia); group 2, 5 le ss than or equal to MD < 10 x 10(6)/mL; group 3, MD > 10 x 10(6)/mL, b ut % motility < 30%. There were no significant differences in mean FSH levels between groups. Overall FSH was increased in 47.1% of the case s. In contrast, mean LH levels were normal in all three groups. Only 1 7.3% of the entire group had elevated LH levels. The TET level was bel ow normal in 32.3% of the entire group, with a fairly equal distributi on between the three groups. Overall, only 7.8% had elevated PRL level s, with the highest percentage found in group 3 (22.2%). Only a small minority of patients with increased FSH had low TET Levels compared to 48.0% of those with normal FSH. These data demonstrate that when usin g the lower semen parameters, the most common serum hormone abnormalit y is increased FSH; men with MD < 5 x 10(6)/mL do not have a higher in cidence of elevated FSH than those with higher MDs. Serum TET (but not free TET) was the only other hormone measured that was abnormal (i.e. , low) in a sizable minority of patients. Hyperprolactinemia is not co mmon in men with subnormal semen parameters.