Evaluation of hormonal and physical factors responsible for male infertility in Sagamu South Western Nigeria

摘要

Gonadotropins (FSH, LH) and testosterone abnormalities are usually associated with abnormal spermatogenesis. Plasma luteinizing hormone (LH), follicule stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone levels were estimated in sixty eight infertile men (age group 20-56 years) of at least 2 years duration of infertility, being a stepping toe into investigating the causes of infertility in the couples and before embarking on more expensive investigating procedures in the female partners. Thirty normal males (age group 27- 46 years) of the same socioeconomic status were selected as control group. Clinical examination was carried out on all the subjects and information about age and history of infertility in the family was obtained. Results showed that 14 (20.6%) of the infertile men were azoospermic, 50 (73.5%) were oligozoospermic and 4 (5.9%) were normospermic. Using the physical factors, 32 physical challenges were observed comprising of 5 (15.6 %) hyhpoplastic testes, 1 (3.1%) testicular atrophy and 26 (81.3 %) varicocele. There was a statistically significant (p 0.05) increase in the mean FSH and LH levels in all the infertile males studied when compared with the controls (n=30). However, there was no significant difference in the mean levels of testosterone between the infertile and fertile men.