title: The effect of pure FSH administration in non-obstructive azoospermic men on testicular sperm retrieval.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In cases of azoospermia due to impaired spermatogenesis, spermatozoa can be retrieved by sperm extraction (TESE) from testicular biopsy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of pure follicle-stimulating hormone (pFSH) on sperm recovery, and measure the predictive value of testicular histology.
  
  
  METHODS
  In all, 108 patients were studied. These included those with Sertoli cell-only (n=16), focal spermatogenesis (n=36), maturation arrest (n=19) and hypospermatogenesis (n=37) in previous explorative biopsies. All had normal serum FSH, LH and testosterone levels. In 63 cases, 75IU pFSH were administered, either i.m. or s.c., three times a week, for 3 months and the control group (n=45) no treatment was given.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sperm retrieval rate was 64% (40/63 pts.) in pFSH treated men versus 33% (15/45 pts.) in controls (P<0.01). In Sertoli cell-only patients, the rate was 2/7 (28%) versus 4/9 (44%) in controls and treated men, respectively (P>0.05); and 3/8 (37%) versus 5/11 (45%) in maturation arrest (P>0.05); 6/14 (42%) versus 18/23 (78%) in hypospermatogenesis (P<0.05); and 4/16 (25%) versus 13/20 (65%) in focal spermatogenesis (P<0.01). Treatment with pFSH also improved the quantity of retrieved spermatozoa compared to control values (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  pFSH treatment improves the success of TESE for non-obstructive azoospermic men with normal FSH levels.
authors.affiliation: Research Center on Infertility, School of Medicine, University of Ankara, 06100 Ankara, Turkey. ksaydos@superonline.com
authors.forename: Kaan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aydos
authors.forename: Cihat
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Unlü
authors.forename: L Cem
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Demirel
authors.forename: Oya
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Evirgen
authors.forename: Ozden
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tolunay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000628:therapy*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013094:Spermatozoa; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone