O. Modebe, HYPERPROLACTINEMIA IN OLIGOSPERMIC NIGERIAN MALES - EFFECT OF BROMOCRIPTINE TREATMENT, International journal of fertility, 39(2), 1994, pp. 95-99
Objective-To assess the possible etiological role of hyperprolactinemi
a in oligospermic African males. Design-Prospective. Setting-Universit
y teaching hospital. Patients and Methods-Of the 52 infertile males st
udied, 23 had oligospermia, 11 were hyperprolactinemic, while 7 had bo
th oligospermia and hyperprolactinemia. Mean serum testosterone concen
tration was lower in oligospermic than normospermic patients (3.6 +/-
1.9 ng/mL vs. 6.3 +/- 2.8 ng/mL; P<.05), and in hyperprolactinemic tha
n normoprolactinemic patients (2.8 +/- 1.5 ng/mL vs. 5.7 +/- 2.8 ng/mL
; P<.05). The patients with both oligospermia and hyperprolactinemia h
ad the lowest mean serum testosterone (2.2 +/- 0.7 ng/mL) concentratio
n. Oral bromocriptine was given to the seven hyperprolactinemic, oligo
spermic patients for 9-12 weeks. Results-Serum prolactin was reduced t
o normal in all and increased sperm count to normal in 4/7. The wives
of two of the responders became pregnant. Conclusions-The serum concen
tration of prolactin should be estimated in all oligospermic patients
who exhibit no obvious cause of the oligospermia. Those found to be hy
perprolactinemic should be given bromocriptine.