Bromocriptine for infertile males with mild hyperprolactinemia: Hormonal and spermatogenic effects

To clarify the influence of hyperprolactinemia on spermatogenesis and stero idogenesis in infertile male patients, the serum prolactin (PRL), luteinizi ng hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone, and estr adiol concentrations were and the effect of bromocriptine treatment on sper matogenesis was examined. A total of 1234 patients were evaluated and 147 m en had hyperprolactinemia. Of these, only 30 had PRL concentrations more th an twice the upper limit of normal and most of them had a little excess ove r the upper limit. For 10 of these 30, serum hormone concentrations were me asured and semen was analyzed before and after bromocriptine administration . No relationship between the PRL and other hormone concentrations was foun d. No changes were noted in the LH, FSH, testosterone, or estradiol concent rations, or in the sperm density and motility after treatment. The mean PRL decreased from 26.5 +/- 4.5 to 1.4 +/- 1.8 ng/mL. In infertile men who are mildly hyperprolactinemic, bromocriptine administration does not improve s emen analysis, although it does normalize the PRL.