Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine

The Korean Society for Reproductive Medicine (대한생식의학회)
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The Effectiveness of Aromatase Inhibitor in Infertile Male

불임남성에서 방향화효소 억제제의 치료 효과

  • Lee, Jae-Seok (Department of Urology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine) ;
  • Han, Keo-Reum (Department of Urology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine) ;
  • Park, Young-Seog (Laboratory of Reproductive Biology and Infertility, Samsung Cheil Hospital) ;
  • Seo, Ju-Tae (Department of Urology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine)
  • 이재석 (성균관대학교 의과대학 비뇨기과교실) ;
  • 한거름 (성균관대학교 의과대학 비뇨기과교실) ;
  • 박용석 (삼성제일병원 생식생물학 및 불임연구실) ;
  • 서주태 (성균관대학교 의과대학 비뇨기과교실)
  • Published : 2003.06.30
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Abstract

Objective: We investigated whether serum testosterone to estradiol ratio was decreased in infertile men and whether this condition can be corrected with oral aromatase inhibitor. Method: The serum testosterone to estradiol ratio of 26 men with testicular failure were compared with those of normal semen analysis parameter, 89 control reference group. All of 26 testicular failure group were diagnosed with the previous testicular biopsy. Then 46 men with oligospermia and/or asthenospermia were selected and treated with 1 mg of the aromatase inhibitor anastrozole ($Arimidex^{(R)}$) orally once daily for 3 months. Testosterone to estradiol ratio and semen analyses were evaluated during anastrozole therapy. Results: The testosterone level of testicular failure group was significantly lower and the testosterone to estradiol ratio was more decreased than normal semen parameter group. Forty six on-anastrozole group had significantly lower testosterone (4.6 versus 5.7 ng/ml, p<0.01) and higher estradiol (15.9 versus 23.4 pg/ml, p<0.01) than pre-anastrozole group, resulting in a decreased testosterone to estradiol ratio ($0.21{\pm}0.07$ versus $0.39{\pm}0.15$, p<0.01). Semen analyses before and during anastrozole treatment revealed significant increases in sperm count (35.5 versus 52.2 million sperm per ml, p<0.01) and motility (22.9% versus 29.3%, p<0.01). Conclusions: We identified infertile men with testicular failure had hormonal changes characterized by a decreased serum testosterone to estradiol ratio. The ratio can be corrected with aromatase inhibitor, resulting in a significant improvement in semen parameters.

Keywords

References

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