Oral tamoxifen citrate treatment is more effective in normogonadotropic patients who have follicle-stimulating hormone levels within the lower half of normal.
OBJECTIVE
To identify a subgroup of normogonadotropic men who may benefit relatively more from TC (tamoxifen citrate; a widely prescribed drug for male infertility) among those with FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) values in the lower or higher halves of the normal range.


METHODS
In this retrospective study, 120 normogonadotropic infertile men with idiopathic oligozoospermia were included. All patients received 20 mg TC daily as a single dose for 6 months, and semen analysis and hormone levels were analyzed after 6 months, with the values being compared with those before treatment.


RESULTS
The FSH, luteinizing hormone and testosterone levels were significantly increased after the use of oral TC 20 mg daily. The sperm counts of the patients in the lower initial FSH group had a significantly higher increase in sperm count and concentration compared to the relatively higher FSH group.


CONCLUSIONS
This study revealed that initial FSH values can be used as a marker to estimate the probability that a patient will benefit from oral TC therapy. Patients in the lower FSH group had statistically higher chances of having higher sperm counts after treatment, and it is rational to advise these patients to receive 6 months of oral TC therapy. However, before drawing firm conclusions from this retrospective study, these results should be confirmed with double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trials.
Kadioglu
Teoman Cem
TC
Istanbul University, Istanbul School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey. teoman@kadioglu.org
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia; D011336:Probability; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013076:Sperm Count; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D013629:Tamoxifen; D013739:Testosterone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone