title: Male reproductive endocrinology: when to replace gonadotropins.
abstract: Infertility is generally defined as a couple's inability to conceive after 1 year of unprotected intercourse. When infertile couples seek assistance, a male factor will be identified half of the time. Once the male has been evaluated, there are four main categories to describe his infertility: (1) idiopathic, (2) post-testicular/obstructive, (3) primary-where the Sertoli and/or Leydig cells of the testis fail, and (4) secondary-where there is a problem with the hypothalamus and/or pituitary. The last, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH), accounts for up to 2% of infertile men. HH is either congenital or acquired and usually can be successfully treated by medical intervention. This review will focus on the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis, specific defects of this coordination center, and potential interventions for improving male-factor fertility.
authors.affiliation: Division of Male Fertility and Sexual Function, Department of Urology, Upstate University Hospital, Syracuse, New York, USA. jctrussell1@verizon.net
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Trussell
mesh_terms: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008596:Menotropins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D006062:Gonadotropins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D008596:Menotropins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone