THE EFFECT OF FOLLICLE-STIMULATING-HORMONE THERAPY ON SPERM QUALITY -AN ULTRASTRUCTURAL MATHEMATICAL EVALUATION

We investigated the effect of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) admin istration on the ultrastructure of spermatozoa in order to evaluate th e potential of FSH therapy for improving sperm quality. Forty-six pati ents exhibiting idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia who attended t he intrauterine insemination (IU), in vitro fertilization (IVF), or in tracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) program at our clinic received F SH in daily dosages of 150 IU over a period of 12 weeks. Using transmi ssion electron microscopy, the ultrastructural analysis of spermatozoa was performed prior to the start of FSH therapy, after the treatment had been finished, and 6 weeks posttherapy. Applying a mathematical fo rmula based on submicroscopic characteristics, we calculated the numbe r of morphologically normal spermatozoa. After the FSH treatment, the examined subcellular organelles achieved a higher percentage of integr ity. Follicle-stimulating hormone treatment leads to a higher number o f morphologically normal spermatozoa. The electron microscopic finding s indicate that treatment with pure FSH may be an effective way to imp rove sperm quality in cases with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia. Applyin g the mathematical analysis based on the whole complex of the selected sperm characteristics, we obtained a way to evaluate the success of t herapy for the first time.