Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF )
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (60)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Acosta, A. A.
Right arrow Articles by Oehninger, S.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Acosta, A. A.
Right arrow Articles by Oehninger, S.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Human Reproduction, Vol. 7, No. 8, pp. 1067-1072, 1992
© 1992 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

other

Pure human follicle stimulating hormone has a role in the treatment of severe male infertility by assisted reproduction: Norfolk's total experience

Anibal A. Acosta1, Emad Khalifa and Sergio Oehninger

The Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eastern Virginia Medical School Norfolk, VA 23507, USA

Correspondence: 1To whom correspondence should be addressed

Fifty patients [79 in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles] with severe male factor infertility were included in an experimental clinical trial running from October 1987 to March 1991 to assess the potential of systemic follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) treatment to improve sperm fertilizing ability in IVF. Two groups were defined: a secondary group (24 patients, 33 IVF cycles) with a history of failed fertilization in previous IVF attempts and a primary group (26 patients, 46 IVF cycles) with poor sperm parameters which suggested that fertilization would not occur according to previously established criteria. Basic semen analysis and a battery of endocrine radioimmunoassays [serum FSH, luteinizing hormone (LH), oestradiol, prolactin and testosterone] were performed in these patients. Bioactive-FSH and LH were also determined in some patients. For this study, pure FSH was administered (150 IU i.m. three times per week) for at least 3 months, after which the semen analysis and endocrine tests were repeated. Although no significant changes were observed after FSH therapy, either in the endocrine profile or in the basic semen parameters, except for FSH radioimmunoassay levels, the fertilization rate of pre-ovulatory oocytes was significantly improved from 2 to 54.4% in the secondary group; the primary group showed a 52.3% fertilization rate. Eighteen clinical pregnancies were achieved, 11 in the primary group and seven in the secondary group, giving 30 and 26% term pregnancy rates per transfer respectively. These results, which are in complete agreement with our preliminary study, re-emphasized the benefits of systemic FSH administration as an adjunct to assisted reproduction in selected cases of severe male factor infertility. The authors insist on the need for a co-operative, multicentre, double-blind trial with crossover to validate these results quickly and efficiently.

Key words: fertilization/FSH/infertility/IVF/male


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Endocr. Rev.Home page
T. M. Plant and G. R. Marshall
The Functional Significance of FSH in Spermatogenesis and the Control of Its Secretion in Male Primates
Endocr. Rev., December 1, 2001; 22(6): 764 - 786.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol. Reprod.Home page
H. Krishnamurthy, N. Danilovich, C. R. Morales, and M. R. Sairam
Qualitative and Quantitative Decline in Spermatogenesis of the Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Receptor Knockout (FORKO) Mouse
Biol Reprod, May 1, 2000; 62(5): 1146 - 1159.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 NEJMHome page
J. I. Sandlow, J. F. Donovan, M. G. Oefelein, E. Wendel, D. Clark, S. L. Nickman, H. W. Jones, and J. P. Toner
The Infertile Couple
N. Engl. J. Med., April 21, 1994; 330(16): 1154 - 1155.
[Full Text]

Home page
 NEJMHome page
H. W. Jones and J. P. Toner
The Infertile Couple
N. Engl. J. Med., December 2, 1993; 329(23): 1710 - 1715.
[Full Text]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.