Fertility and hormonal function in patients with a nonseminomatous tumor of the testis.
Semen quality and serum testosterone, LH, and FSH levels were studied in 54 patients with a unilateral nonseminomatous tumor of the testis--14 before and 40 after orchiectomy. Semen analyses before and after orchiectomy gave essentially no different results: a poor semen quality was found in most men. The additional effect of a recent orchiectomy on semen quality was not demonstrable in the patients described here. Before orchiectomy, increased testosterone levels were found in patients with a beta-hCG-producing tumor. After orchiectomy serum testosterone levels were decreased, and LH and FSH levels increased. With beta-hCG-producing tumors FSH was suppressed after orchiectomy, and testosterone levels did not exceed those in patients with a tumor not producing beta-hCG. The results of semen analysis and of hormonal studies after orchiectomy suggest a dysfunction of the remaining "normal" testis. Diminished spermatogenesis and insufficient testosterone production by the Leydig cells clearly indicate anomalies already present before orchiectomy.
Nijman
J M
JM
Schraffordt Koops
H
H
Kremer
J
J
Willemse
P H
PH
Sleijfer
D T
DT
Oldhoff
J
J
D000328:Adult; D002369:Castration; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000503:physiopathology; D004407:Dysgerminoma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005298:Fertility; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013076:Sperm Count; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone