The effect of three-month topical testosterone gel application on semen quality in men with oligozoospermia and low serum testosterone levels

Objective: The effects of daily topical application of testosterone gel on semen characteristics in infertile men with oligozoospermia and hypogonadism were assessed. Methods: Sixteen infertile men were included in this prospective study. A daily morning application of 25 mg transdermal testosterone...

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Main Authors: I. Thanaboonyawat, P. Chera-aree, S. Petyim, R. Choavaratana, P. Laokirkkiat
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IMR Press 2020-12-01
Series:Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.imrpress.com/journal/CEOG/47/6/10.31083/j.ceog.2020.06.5454
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author I. Thanaboonyawat
P. Chera-aree
S. Petyim
R. Choavaratana
P. Laokirkkiat
author_facet I. Thanaboonyawat
P. Chera-aree
S. Petyim
R. Choavaratana
P. Laokirkkiat
author_sort I. Thanaboonyawat
collection DOAJ
description Objective: The effects of daily topical application of testosterone gel on semen characteristics in infertile men with oligozoospermia and hypogonadism were assessed. Methods: Sixteen infertile men were included in this prospective study. A daily morning application of 25 mg transdermal testosterone (T) gel was used for 3 months. Semen parameters, serum follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E) and T levels, and seminal plasma E and T levels were measured before treatment and once monthly for three months during the therapy. Results: The baseline median sperm concentration was 5.5 × 106/mL. Median sperm concentrations at the first, second and third months were 9 × 106, 8 × 10 6, and 4 × 106/mL, respectively. The sperm concentrations at the first and second months after starting therapy significantly (p < 0.001) increased compared with the baseline. However, sperm volume, pH, motility, viability and morphology were similar to baseline. Serum T significantly (p < 0.001) increased, while serum FSH significantly (p < 0.001) decreased from baseline. Seminal T and T/E ratios were raised significantly (p = 0.008 and p = 0.004, respectively) after gel application, whereas the seminal E level was not affected. Conclusions: Daily 25 mg T gel applications for oligospermic infertile men with hypogonadism increased the sperm concentration at the first and second months and raised the serum T level to the normal adult male range. Nevertheless, the sperm concentration had a decreasing trend after the third month.
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spelling doaj-art-a00c7e10e9a74ea7bcc2ade4761e27462025-08-20T02:00:39ZengIMR PressClinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology0390-66632020-12-0147687588110.31083/j.ceog.2020.06.5454S0390-6663(20)00343-7The effect of three-month topical testosterone gel application on semen quality in men with oligozoospermia and low serum testosterone levelsI. Thanaboonyawat0P. Chera-aree1S. Petyim2R. Choavaratana3P. Laokirkkiat4Infertility and Reproductive Biology Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, ThailandInfertility and Reproductive Biology Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, ThailandInfertility and Reproductive Biology Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, ThailandInfertility and Reproductive Biology Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, ThailandInfertility and Reproductive Biology Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, ThailandObjective: The effects of daily topical application of testosterone gel on semen characteristics in infertile men with oligozoospermia and hypogonadism were assessed. Methods: Sixteen infertile men were included in this prospective study. A daily morning application of 25 mg transdermal testosterone (T) gel was used for 3 months. Semen parameters, serum follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E) and T levels, and seminal plasma E and T levels were measured before treatment and once monthly for three months during the therapy. Results: The baseline median sperm concentration was 5.5 × 106/mL. Median sperm concentrations at the first, second and third months were 9 × 106, 8 × 10 6, and 4 × 106/mL, respectively. The sperm concentrations at the first and second months after starting therapy significantly (p < 0.001) increased compared with the baseline. However, sperm volume, pH, motility, viability and morphology were similar to baseline. Serum T significantly (p < 0.001) increased, while serum FSH significantly (p < 0.001) decreased from baseline. Seminal T and T/E ratios were raised significantly (p = 0.008 and p = 0.004, respectively) after gel application, whereas the seminal E level was not affected. Conclusions: Daily 25 mg T gel applications for oligospermic infertile men with hypogonadism increased the sperm concentration at the first and second months and raised the serum T level to the normal adult male range. Nevertheless, the sperm concentration had a decreasing trend after the third month.https://www.imrpress.com/journal/CEOG/47/6/10.31083/j.ceog.2020.06.5454testosterone geloligozoospermiahypogonadismsperm concentrationseminal testosterone/estradiol ratiomale infertility
spellingShingle I. Thanaboonyawat
P. Chera-aree
S. Petyim
R. Choavaratana
P. Laokirkkiat
The effect of three-month topical testosterone gel application on semen quality in men with oligozoospermia and low serum testosterone levels
Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology
testosterone gel
oligozoospermia
hypogonadism
sperm concentration
seminal testosterone/estradiol ratio
male infertility
title The effect of three-month topical testosterone gel application on semen quality in men with oligozoospermia and low serum testosterone levels
title_full The effect of three-month topical testosterone gel application on semen quality in men with oligozoospermia and low serum testosterone levels
title_fullStr The effect of three-month topical testosterone gel application on semen quality in men with oligozoospermia and low serum testosterone levels
title_full_unstemmed The effect of three-month topical testosterone gel application on semen quality in men with oligozoospermia and low serum testosterone levels
title_short The effect of three-month topical testosterone gel application on semen quality in men with oligozoospermia and low serum testosterone levels
title_sort effect of three month topical testosterone gel application on semen quality in men with oligozoospermia and low serum testosterone levels
topic testosterone gel
oligozoospermia
hypogonadism
sperm concentration
seminal testosterone/estradiol ratio
male infertility
url https://www.imrpress.com/journal/CEOG/47/6/10.31083/j.ceog.2020.06.5454
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