A Comparison of Endocrine Function and Semen Analysis in Fertile and Subfertile Men

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Abstract
A study of 121 normozoospermic, 62 oligozoospermic and 22 azoospermic patients was made and serum testosterone, LH [lutropin] and FSH [follitropin] were compared with semen analysis. Testosterone was similar in all 3 groups studied. FSH rose significantly in the oligozoospermic and azoospermic groups (P < 0.01). LH was similar in the normozoospermic and oligozoospermic groups but rose significantly in the azoospermic group (P < 0.01). The rise in FSH is in accordance with the theory of inhibin release during the maturation states of spermatogenesis. The rise in LH might indicate a separate feedback mechanism mediated by the early stages of spermatogenesis and not by testosterone alone.