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Abstract
Many previous studies evaluating various hormone levels in males with subnormal semen analyses were performed when the normal semen parameters were considerably higher than now. This study evaluated sera levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), total testosterone (TET), free TET, and prolactin (PRL) in 60 males with oligospermia and decreased motility according to recent World Health Organization standards. Three separate groups were evaluated: group 1, motile density (MD) < 5 ± 106/mL (but not azoospermia); group 2, 5 ± MD < 10 ± 106/mL; group 3, MD > 10 ± 106mL, but % motility < 30%. There were no significant differences in mean FSH levels between groups. Overall FSH was increased in 47.1% of the cases. In contrast, mean LH levels were normal in all three groups. Only 17.3% of the entire group had elevated LH levels. The TET level was below normal in 32.3% of the entire group, with a fairly equal distribution between the three groups. Overall, only 7.8% had elevated PRL levels, with the highest percentage found in group 3 (22.2%). Only a small minority of patients with increased FSH had low TET levels compared to 48.0% of those with normal FSH. These data demonstrate that when using the lower semen parameters, the most common serum hormone abnormality is increased FSH; men with MD < 5 ±106/mL do not have a higher incidence of elevated FSH than those with higher MDs. Serum TET (but not free TET) was the only other hormone measured that was abnormal (i.e., low) in a sizable minority of patients. Hyperprolactinemia is not common in men with subnormal semen parameters.