title: Semen quality in men with disseminated testicular cancer: relation with human chorionic gonadotropin beta-subunit and pituitary gonadal hormones.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the semen quality and hormonal status between patients with testicular cancer and normal versus increased serum levels of beta-hCG.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic research environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  All 203 patients with testicular cancer who required chemotherapy in the period 1995-2003 were included.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 107 patients semen samples were stored by cryopreservation; 62 patients could be analyzed because both semen was stored and hormones were determined before starting chemotherapy (median age 25 years, range 17-49 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  Total motile sperm count, T, E(2), LH, FSH, and PRL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total motile sperm count was decreased in patients with increased beta-hCG (median 11.9 x 10(6)) compared with patients with normal beta-hCG (median 21.5 x 10(6)). Testosterone, E(2), and PRL were significantly higher in patients with increased beta-hCG levels, whereas LH and FSH were lower. Semen quality was significantly and negatively correlated with beta-hCG, E(2), and PRL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with increased beta-hCG had an inferior spermatogenesis compared with patients with normal beta-hCG. Increased beta-hCG appears to be associated with impaired spermatogenesis and increased levels of E(2) and PRL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center, Groningen, The Netherlands. d.de.bruin@uro.umcg.nl
authors.forename: Daphne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: de Bruin
authors.forename: Igle J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: de Jong
authors.forename: Eugène G J M
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Arts
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nuver
authors.forename: Robin P F
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Dullaart
authors.forename: Willem J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Sluiter
authors.forename: Harald J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Hoekstra
authors.forename: Dirk T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Sleijfer
authors.forename: Jourik A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gietema
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood*; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009919:Orchiectomy; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D012661:Semen / Q000502:physiology*; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000379:methods; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D011388:Prolactin; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone