Significance of serum FSH levels and testicular morphology in infertile males.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationship between plasma levels of FSH and testicular spermatogenic patterns.


METHODS
Testicular biopsies were obtained from 99 infertile men. Biopsies were performed either in order to distinguish the type of azoospermia (obstructive/non-obstructive) or because of severely subnormal semen variables. Serum FSH was measured by immunoassay (normal range is less than 7 mIU/ml).


RESULTS
Statistically significant difference was detected between patients with Sertoli cell only syndrome and normal spermatogenesis, hypospermatogenesis and maturation arrest (p<0.01, p<0.01, p<0.05, respectively). No statistically significant differences were found between normal spermatogenesis, hypospermatogenesis and maturation arrest.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study revealed that elevation of serum FSH correlates only with the appearance of Sertoli cell only syndrome. We think that azoospermic or severely oligoasthenoteratozoospermic patients with highly elevated plasma FSH levels (three times the normal) could be excluded from separate testicular biopsy, because these patients are not suitable for conventional treatments. If he is willing to undergo an IVF program the sperm will often be present, no matter what the testicular histology is to be used for assisted reproductive techniques, particularly ICSI.
Yaman
O
O
Department of Urology, University of Ankara, School of Medicine, Turkey.
Ozdiler
E
E
Seçkiner
I
I
Göğüş
O
O
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012707:Sertoli Cell Tumor / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D013577:Syndrome; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology*
D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone