Thyroid hormones and thyroid antibodies in infertile males

Objective: To investigate the incidence of thyroid dysfunction, thyroid ant ibodies, and the correlation with semen and hormonal parameters in infertil e men. Design: Prospective study. Setting: University-based andrology laboratory. Patient(s): Three hundred five infertile men with idiopathic infertility. Intervention(s): Medical history, clinical examination, semen analysis, mea surement of free thyroxin (fT4), free triiodothyronine (fT3), basal thyroid -stimulating hormone (bTSH), LH, FSH, T, free testosterone. (fT), PRL, E-2, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), DHEAS, and the thyroid antibodies thy reoglobulin antibody (TGA), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO-Ab), and thyro id receptor antibody (TRAK). Main Outcome Measure(s): Incidence of thyroid dysfunction and thyroid antib odies, as well as the correlation with hormones and the results of semen an alyses. Result(s): No manifest thyroid dysfunction was observed. Latent thyroid dys function and latent hypothyroidism. were diagnosed in 11.5% and 3% of infer tile men, respectively. No correlation between thyroid dysfunction and seme n parameters was detected. bTSH correlated significantly with PRL (P < .001 ). Thyroid antibodies were elevated in 7.5%. Elevated TPO-Ab were significa ntly correlated with pathozoospermia (P=.036) and asthenozoospermia (P=.049 ). Conclusion(s): Latent thyroid dysfunction had no impact on semen parameters . In patients with elevated TPO-Ab levels, pathozoospermia or asthenozoospe rmia should be considered. (C) 2001 by American Society for Reproductive Me dicine.