ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: This study aims to determine the prevalence and pattern of endocrinological abnormalities in patients investigated for male infertility in our environment. METHODS: An observational, retrospective study was conducted on men investigated for infertility at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital over a two-year period, from April 2004 to March 2006. Hormonal assessments were done on those with abnormalities of their sperm count. RESULTS: A total of 1,201 men were evaluated for infertility during the study period, out of which 96 underwent hormonal assessment because of abnormalities of their sperm counts. 88 had abnormal hormonal assays, giving a prevalence of endocrine abnormality of 7.3 percent. The mean age of the patients was 35.7 years. 68 (70.8 percent) patients had primary infertility and 72 (75 percent) had azoospermia. 64 (66.7 percent) patients had elevated follicle-stimulating hormone levels, while 48 (50 percent) had decreased testosterone levels. 12 (12.5 percent) patients had elevation of serum prolactin. 40 (41.7 percent) patients had hormonal profile in keeping with hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, while the endocrinological diagnosis in four (4.2 percent) patients was hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Patients with primary infertility were found to be more likely to have partial androgen resistance (odds-ratio 2.241, 95 percent confidence interval 0.458-10.955). CONCLUSION: Endocrinopathy, which can be successfully treated, is not an uncommon cause of male infertility in our environment. Therefore, hormonal assessments should be performed in the evaluation of male infertility as appropriate.
