EFFECT OF PHENYTOIN ON SEMEN

Male patients receiving antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have often complain ed of hyposexuality. Few studies have been done on semen analysis, whi ch is relevant for assessment of potential and possible reproductive o utcome in such cases. We evaluated the effect of epilepsy itself and/o r phenytoin (PHT) on the male reproductive system. Fifty-five patients with epilepsy (42 with PHT and 13 untreated) and 28 healthy normal co ntrols were studied by semen analysis. Serum samples from 21 of the 55 patients were also analyzed for testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH ), and follicle-stimulating hormone. Results showed lower volume of se minal fluid, spermatozoa concentration, and total sperm count in untre ated and PHT-treated patients as compared with controls, although no d ifference was evident between the patient groups. Morphologically abno rmal sperm were more increased in untreated patients than in PHT treat ed and control subjects. Hormonal analysis showed lower levels of test osterone in 9 patients. LH levels were increased in one third of the p atients. Our results suggests an effect of seizures on the male reprod uctive system, and PHT may have a slight additive (if any) influence.