A low sperm concentration does not preclude fertility in men with isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism after gonadotropin therapy

• Published in: Fertility and sterility Vol. 50; no. 2; pp. 343 - 347
• Main Authors: Burris, Allen S., Clark, Richard V., Vantman, David J., Sherins, Richard J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.08.1988; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Chorionic Gonadotropin - administration & dosage; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Fertility; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - blood; Gonadotropins, Pituitary - metabolism; Gonadotropins, Pituitary - therapeutic use; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Hypogonadism - drug therapy; Hypogonadism - metabolism; Hypogonadism - pathology; Luteinizing Hormone - blood; Male; Male genital diseases; Medical sciences; Menotropins - administration & dosage; Non tumoral diseases; Pregnancy; Sperm Count; Testis - pathology; Testosterone - blood; Human; Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism; Chemotherapy; Fertility; Gonadotropin; Glycoprotein hormone; Male genital diseases; Oligospermia
• ISSN: 0015-0282; 1556-5653
• DOI: 10.1016/S0015-0282(16)60084-5

In order to define the minimal number of sperm needed for conception, we studied semen characteristics of men with isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) who became sperm-positive during gonadotropin therapy. Twenty-two of 24 men (92%) proved fertile, initiating a total of 40 pregnancies. The mean (± standard error of the mean) sperm concentration at the time of conception was 16.7 ± 4.0 × 106/ml. However, 71% of pregnancies were conceived when the mean sperm concentration was <20 × 106/ml; in 16%, the mean sperm concentration was <1 × 106/ml. Mean total sperm count correlated highly with sperm concentration (r = 0.67, P < 0.001). We conclude that men with IHH can initiate conception even when their sperm concentration is well below the conventional lower limit of 20 × 106/ml.