FSH THERAPY IN IDIOPATHIC OLIGOASTHENOTER ATOZOOSPERMIA IN ADDITION TO ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNIQUES - AN ANALYSIS USING THE ELECTRON-MICROSCOPE

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of FSH administrati on on the ultrastructure of spermatozoa to assess the potential of FSH therapy for improving sperm quality. 46 patients exhibiting idiopathi c oligoasthenoteratozoospermia who attended the IUI, IVF or microinjec tion programme received FSH in dosages of 150 IU daily over a period o f 12 weeks. Ultrastructrual analysis of spermatozoa using transmission electron microscopy was performed prior to the start of FSH therapy, immediately after treatment, and 6 weelts post therapy, respectively. Applying a mathematical formula based on submicroscopic characteristic s, we calculated the number of intact spermatozoa. After FSH treatment nearly all examined subcellular organelles achieved a higher percenta ge of integrity. FSH treatment leads to a greater number of spermatozo a. Electron microscopic findings indicate that treatment with pure FSH may be an effective way to improve sperm quality in cases with severe impairment of semen parameters. Applying the mathematical analysis ba sed on the whole complex of the selected sperm structures we got a pos sibility assessing the success of therapy for the first time.