Semen quality in patients with pituitary disease and adult-onset hypogonadotropic hypogonadism
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Standard
Semen quality in patients with pituitary disease and adult-onset hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. / Andreassen, Mikkel; Juul, Anders; Feldt-Rasmussen, Ulla; Jørgensen, Niels.
In: Endocrine Connections, Vol. 7, No. 4, 2018, p. 523-533.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Harvard
APA
Vancouver
Author
Bibtex
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
T1 - Semen quality in patients with pituitary disease and adult-onset hypogonadotropic hypogonadism
AU - Andreassen, Mikkel
AU - Juul, Anders
AU - Feldt-Rasmussen, Ulla
AU - Jørgensen, Niels
N1 - © 2018 The authors.
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - OBJECTIVE: Gonadotropins (luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)) are released from the pituitary gland and stimulate Leydig cells to produce testosterone and initiates spermatogenesis. Little is known about how and when the deterioration of semen quality occurs in patients with adult-onset gonadotropin insufficiency.DESIGN AND METHODS: A retrospective study comprising 20 testosterone-deficient men (median age, 29 years) with acquired pituitary disease who delivered semen for cryopreservation before initiation of testosterone therapy. Semen variables and hormone concentrations were compared to those of young healthy men (n = 340).RESULTS: Thirteen of 20 patients (65%) and 82% of controls had total sperm counts above 39 million and progressive motile spermatozoa above 32% (P = 0.05). For the individual semen variables, there were no significant differences in semen volume (median (intraquartile range) 3.0 (1.3-6.8) vs 3.2 (2.3-4.3) mL, P = 0.47), sperm concentration 41 (11-71) vs 43 (22-73) mill/mL (P = 0.56) or total sperm counts (P = 0.66). One patient had azoospermia. Patients vs controls had lower serum testosterone 5.4 (2.2-7.6) vs 19.7 (15.5-24.5) nmol/L (P = 0.001), calculated free testosterone (cfT) 145 (56-183) vs 464 (359-574) pmol/L (P < 0.001), LH 1.5 (1.1-2.1) vs 3.1 (2.3-4.0) U/L (P = 0.002) and inhibin b (P < 0.001). Levels of FSH were similar (P = 0.63). Testosterone/LH ratio and cfT/LH ratio were reduced in patients (both P < 0.001).CONCLUSIONS: Despite Leydig cell insufficiency in patients with acquired pituitary insufficiency, the majority presented with normal semen quality based on the determination of the number of progressively motile spermatozoa. In addition, the data suggest reduced LH bioactivity in patients with pituitary insufficiency.
AB - OBJECTIVE: Gonadotropins (luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)) are released from the pituitary gland and stimulate Leydig cells to produce testosterone and initiates spermatogenesis. Little is known about how and when the deterioration of semen quality occurs in patients with adult-onset gonadotropin insufficiency.DESIGN AND METHODS: A retrospective study comprising 20 testosterone-deficient men (median age, 29 years) with acquired pituitary disease who delivered semen for cryopreservation before initiation of testosterone therapy. Semen variables and hormone concentrations were compared to those of young healthy men (n = 340).RESULTS: Thirteen of 20 patients (65%) and 82% of controls had total sperm counts above 39 million and progressive motile spermatozoa above 32% (P = 0.05). For the individual semen variables, there were no significant differences in semen volume (median (intraquartile range) 3.0 (1.3-6.8) vs 3.2 (2.3-4.3) mL, P = 0.47), sperm concentration 41 (11-71) vs 43 (22-73) mill/mL (P = 0.56) or total sperm counts (P = 0.66). One patient had azoospermia. Patients vs controls had lower serum testosterone 5.4 (2.2-7.6) vs 19.7 (15.5-24.5) nmol/L (P = 0.001), calculated free testosterone (cfT) 145 (56-183) vs 464 (359-574) pmol/L (P < 0.001), LH 1.5 (1.1-2.1) vs 3.1 (2.3-4.0) U/L (P = 0.002) and inhibin b (P < 0.001). Levels of FSH were similar (P = 0.63). Testosterone/LH ratio and cfT/LH ratio were reduced in patients (both P < 0.001).CONCLUSIONS: Despite Leydig cell insufficiency in patients with acquired pituitary insufficiency, the majority presented with normal semen quality based on the determination of the number of progressively motile spermatozoa. In addition, the data suggest reduced LH bioactivity in patients with pituitary insufficiency.
U2 - 10.1530/EC-18-0061
DO - 10.1530/EC-18-0061
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 29514896
VL - 7
SP - 523
EP - 533
JO - Endocrine Connections
JF - Endocrine Connections
SN - 2049-3614
IS - 4
ER -
ID: 213962586