The effect of mesterolone on sperm count, on serum follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, plasma
testosterone and outcome in idiopathic oligospermic men.
Varma TR, Patel RH.
Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, St. George's Hospital Medical School London, U.K.
Two hundred fifty subfertile men with idiopathic oligospermia (count less than 20 million/ml) were treated with
mesterolone (100-150 mg/day) for 12 months. Seminal analysis were assayed 3 times and serum follicle stimulating
hormone (FSH) luteinizing hormone (LH) and plasma testosterone were assayed once before treatment and repeated at
3, 6, 9 and 12 months after the initiation of treatment. One hundred ten patients (44%) had normal serum FSH, LH
and plasma testosterone, 85 patients (34%) had low serum FSH, LH and low plasma testosterone. One hundred
seventy-five patients (70%) had moderate oligospermia (count 5 to less than 20 million/ml) and 75 patients (30%)
had severe oligospermia (count less than 5 million/ml). Seventy-five moderately oligospermic patients showed
significant improvement in the sperm density, total sperm count and motility following mesterolone therapy whereas
only 12% showed improvement in the severe oligospermic group. Mesterolone had no depressing effect on low or
normal serum FSH and LH levels but had depressing effect on 25% if the levels were elevated. There was no
significant adverse effect on testosterone levels or on liver function. One hundred fifteen (46%) pregnancies
resulted following the treatment, 9 of 115 (7.8%) aborted and 2 (1.7%) had ectopic pregnancy. Mesterolone was
found to be more useful in patients with a sperm count ranging between 5 and 20 million/ml. Those with severe
oligospermia (count less than 5 million) do not seem to benefit from this therapy.
PMID: 2892728 [PubMed - indexed for