Treatment of idiopathic and postvaricocelectomy oligozoospermia with oral tamoxifen citrate.
OBJECTIVE
To identify a subgroup of men who may benefit from tamoxifen citrate (a widely prescribed drug for male infertility) among those with normogonadotrophic and hypergonadotrophic oligozoospermia, either idiopathic or after varicocelectomy.


METHODS
The study included infertile men with oligozoospermia, 136 referred to our outpatient clinic and 84 infertile after varicocelectomy. All patients received tamoxifen citrate (10 mg twice daily); semen analysis and hormone tests were repeated at the end of 3 and 6 months of treatment, the values being compared with those before treatment.


RESULTS
The levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and testosterone increased in all groups receiving tamoxifen citrate. Normogonadotrophic patients had a significant increase in sperm count and concentration, while the slight increase detected in the hypergonadotrophic group was statistically insignificant.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with normogonadotrophic oligozoospermia, tamoxifen citrate may be offered as a practical and economic alternative before using any assisted reproduction techniques. However, double-blind placebo-controlled trials are needed to confirm the findings of this preliminary study.
Kadioglu
T C
TC
Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Köksal
I T
IT
Tunç
M
M
Nane
I
I
Tellaloglu
S
S
D000284:Administration, Oral; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011182:Postoperative Care; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014646:Varicocele / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery*
D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D013629:Tamoxifen; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone