J Korean Med Assoc.  2004 Dec;47(12):1223-1228. 10.5124/jkma.2004.47.12.1223.

Medical Treatment of Infertile Males

• Seo JT

• KMID: 2065218
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2004.47.12.1223

Abstract

Previously, pharmacologic treatment was empirically and often irrationally for infertile males. As a result of the technological advance provided by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in 1992, the evaluation and treatment of the infertile male has changed significantly. Many men who were previously thought to be irreversibly infertile have the potential to initiate their own biologic pregnancy. However, not all men having impaired semen parameter are ideal candidates for ICSI for numerous reasons including a lack of addressing the underlying problem causing the male infertility, unknown genetic consequences, and cost-effectiveness issues. If pharmacologic therapy is going to be used, it should be employed for a 3- to 6-month period so that at least one full spermatogenetic cycle will be incorporated. Advances in pharmacological and hormonal research in the area of male reproduction and improved methods of reproductive technologies may be combined with medical therapy to improve a couple's fertility outcome.

Keyword

Specific medical therapy; Nonspecific empirical medical therapy

MeSH Terms

Fertility
Humans
Infertility, Male
Male
Pregnancy
Reproduction
Reproductive Techniques
Semen
Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic

Reference

1. Hakim LS, Oates RD. Lipshultz LI, Howards SS, editors. Nonsurgical treatment of male infertility : Specific Therapy. Infertility in the Male. 1997. 3rd ed. St. Louis: Mosby;395–409.

2. Kim ED, Lipshultz LI, Howards SS. Gillenwater JY, Greyhack JT, Howards SS, Mitchell ME, editors. Male infertilty. Adult and Pediatric Urology. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins;1683–1757.

3. McClure RD. Tanagho EA, McAninch JW, editors. Male Infertility : Male infertility. Smith's General Urology. 1995. 14th ed. Norwalk: Appleton & Lange;745–771.

4. Mellinger RC, Thomson RJ. The effect of clomiphen citrate in male infertility. Fertil Steril. 1966. 17:94–103.

5. Schwarzstein L, Aparicio NJ, Schally AV. D-Tryptophan-6-luteinizing hormone-releacing hormone in the treatment of normogonadotropic oligoasthenozoospermia. Int J Androl. 1982. 5:171–178.

6. Vigersky RA, Glass AR. Effect of delta-testosterone on the pituitary-testicular axis in oligospermic men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1981. 52:897–902.