A low sperm concentration does not preclude fertility in men with isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism after gonadotropin therapy.
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 X 10(6)/ml. However, 71% of pregnancies were conceived when the mean sperm concentration was less than 20 X 10(6)/ml; in 16%, the mean sperm concentration was less than 1 X 10(6)/ml. Mean total sperm count correlated highly with sperm concentration (r = 0.67, P less than 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 X 10(6)/ml.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008596:Menotropins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011247:Pregnancy; D013076:Sperm Count; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary; D013739:Testosterone; D008596:Menotropins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone