Evaluation of the gonadotropic ratios among men with varying sperm quality

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to determine the levels of serum LH and FSH, along with their ratios, among men with varying sperm quality. One hundred fifty married men, presenting with a complaint of infertility, which had been evaluated for their seminal profile, and had been classified as azoospermic [50], oligozoospermic [50], asthenozoospermic [20] and normozoospermic [30] were studied for the analysis of serum LH, FSH, levels using Enzyme Immuno Assay [EIA]. Data were compared using student "t-test. The FSH and LH level indicated inverse/negative correlation to sperm concentration. The mean FSH and LH levels for the groups were 22.92 +/- 4.15 and 13.85 +/- 2.33 [Azoospermia], 16.82 +/- 3.79 and 10.92 +/- 3.79 [Oligozoospermia], 3.22 +/- 0.61 and 3.92 +/- 1.17 [Asthenozoospermia] while the levels in normozoospermic men were 5.53 +/- 0.52 and 7.40 +/- 0.60. Similarly, the LH/FSH and FSH/LH ratios in the four groups were 0.77 +/- 0.08 and 1.84 +/- 0.22 [Azoospermia], 1.78 +/- 0.41 and 1.47 +/- 0.18 [Oligozoospermia], 1.51 +/- 0.46 and 1.28 +/- 0.28 [Asthenozoospermia] and the respective ratios in normozoospermic men were 1.55 +/- 0.16 and 0.85 +/- 0.10. The present data indicate that disturbance in gonadotropin ratios also causes infertility, since these hormones act synergistically.