TUESDAY, Dec. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Some men with adult-onset hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH), a condition which accounts for 1 percent to 2 percent of male infertility, may be treatable with clomiphene citrate, according to the results of a study published in the December issue of Fertility and Sterility.
Scott J. Whitten, M.D., of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and colleagues conducted a study of 10 men diagnosed with HH, of which four had Kallmann's syndrome, two had panhypopituitarism and four had idiopathic HH. Eight of the patients were azoospermic and two were oligospermic.
Three of the four men with idiopathic HH who were treated with clomiphene citrate alone experienced increased levels of testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone, as well as better semen parameters. Two of the three men were able to achieve pregnancy. One other man with idiopathic HH treated with gonadotropins also achieved pregnancy, as did one more of the 10 patients.
"The adult-onset form of idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is an uncommon cause of male infertility. However, when encountered, if patients meet the strict diagnostic criteria, our findings would justify a trial of clomiphene citrate before pursuing more expensive and invasive therapy. If patients respond to clomiphene citrate, improvement in semen parameters may be observed after only three to four months of therapy," the authors conclude.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
