title: The effect of systemic isotretinoin on male fertility.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Acne vulgaris is one of the most common diseases of the youth. Systemic isotretinoin is the only drug which acts on all of the etiopathogenic mechanisms of acne. Isotretinoin has some well-known side effects. Besides these, there is a suspicion whether it causes infertility or not. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of systemic isotretinoin on male fertility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty one male patients, who were older than 18 years of age, and had severe or refractory acne vulgaris were included in the study. They were given a total dose of 120 mg/kg of systemic isotretinoin over a period of six months. Before and after the study, the spermiogram parameters of the patients were evaluated to show any possible effect on male fertility. The patients' total testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels were also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All of the spermiogram parameters changed positively (p < 0.05). There was no significant change in the hormone levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Systemic isotretinoin has a positive effect on male fertility. Since the hormone levels did not change significantly, this positive effect of isotretinoin is not via the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis but can be due to its regenerative and proliferative effects on the testes.
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Medicine , Dermatology and Venereology Department, Erciyes University , Kayseri , Turkey .
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Çinar
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Medicine , Dermatology and Venereology Department, Erciyes University , Kayseri , Turkey .
authors.forename: Demet
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kartal
authors.affiliation: b Dermatology and Venereology Department, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Education and Research Hospital , Ankara , Turkey .
authors.forename: Can
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ergin
authors.affiliation: c Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Kayseri Military Hospital , Kayseri , Turkey .
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aksoy
authors.affiliation: d Urology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Kafkas University , Kayseri , Turkey , and.
authors.forename: Mert Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Karadag
authors.affiliation: e Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Kayseri Acibadem Hospital , Kayseri , Turkey.
authors.forename: Turgut
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.affiliation: e Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Kayseri Acibadem Hospital , Kayseri , Turkey.
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cinar
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Medicine , Dermatology and Venereology Department, Erciyes University , Kayseri , Turkey .
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borlu
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D015474:Isotretinoin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D015474:Isotretinoin
keywords: Fertility; isotretinoin; semen analyses