ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN PITUITARY-GONADAL AXIS PARAMETERS AND SEMEN QUALITY IN YOUNG, HEALTHY MEN (AndroLS)

Abstract

Background and Objective Hormonal measurements play an important role in the evaluation of male fertility potential. In men without hypogonadism, the impact of androgen status on semen is rarely analyzed. Material and Methods We evaluated associations between parameters of the pituitary-gonadal axis: luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), total testosterone (T), free testosterone (FT), calculated testosterone (TC), bioavailable testosterone (TB), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), free androgen index, and semen quality parameters in healthy young men. Results In our study group, sperm concentration and sperm count were associated with FSH and FT. The percentage of immotile sperm was associated with LH and T. The percentage of vital sperm was negatively related to LH. We identified negative, independent associations between T and semen volume (p<0.026) and TC and semen volume (p<0.025). We observed negative, independent association between FSH, FT, and total sperm count (both P<0.002) and between FT and the percentage of normal forms (P<0.012). There were positive associations between LH and T and the percentage of immotile sperm (P<0.007 and P<0.034, respectively). There were no relationships between sperm morphology parameters and the parameters of the pituitary-gonadal axis. Conclusion In healthy eugonadal men, variations in FSH, LH, T, and FT (within normal limits) are reflected in semen characteristics but not in sperm morphology features.

Keywords

• luteinizing hormone
• follicle stimulating hormone
• testosterone
• semen quality
• hormones