CORRELATIONS AMONG HORMONE LEVELS, SPERM PARAMETERS AND PATERNITY IN FORMERLY UNILATERALLY CRYPTORCHID MEN

Purpose: We compared characteristics related to fertility between form erly unilaterally cryptorchid men. Materials and Methods: We compared sperm counts and gonadotropin levels before and after gonadotropin-rel easing hormone stimulation between formerly unilaterally cryptorchid m en and controls who had completed a detailed questionnaire on fertilit y and other pertinent paternity information. These parameters were als o compared between the subsets of formerly cryptorchid men who reporte d paternity and unsuccessful attempts at paternity. Results: Sperm den sity and total count, and basal and gonadotropin-releasing hormone sti mulated follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were different in th e cryptorchidism and control groups. Higher FSH levels and lower sperm counts correlated inversely in the cryptorchidism group, while lutein izing hormone, testosterone and other results of semen analysis did no t differ. Furthermore, FSH levels were higher and sperm counts were lo wer in the subset who reported unsuccessful attempts at paternity comp ared with those reporting paternity. Other measured parameters did not differ between these groups. Conclusions: FSH levels are significantl y higher and sperm counts are significantly lower in formerly cryptorc hid men than in controls. In the cryptorchidism group the same differe nces are found in fertile and infertile men. Thus, elevated FSH and lo w sperm counts may be considered risks for infertility in formerly cry ptorchid men.