Male fertility and skin diseases

Male fertility can be affected by a variety of organs diseases, including the skin. Several genodermatoses affect the skin and several other organs including the male reproductive system, commonly in the form of cryptorchidism and hypogonadism. The most relevant syndromes are associated with dyschromias, such as deSanctis-Cacchione, poikiloderma congenital, LEOPARD, and H syndrome; others with ichthyosis, such as Rud, and trichothiodystrophy; or a group of unrelated genodermatoses, such as ablepharon macrostomia, Coffin-Siris, Gorlin-Goltz, and Werner. Acquired skin diseases may also affect male fertility usually in the form of orchitis or epididymal obstruction or androgen antagonists. These include infections (leprosy and HIV), autoimmune (erythema nodosum leprosum), granulomatous (sarcoidosis, Langerhans cell histiocytosis), nutritional deficiency (zinc), and malignancy. Several therapeutics of skin diseases are notorious for their effects on male fertility, most notably are the cytotoxic drugs (methotrexate), irradiation, and antiandrogens (spironolactone, finasteride). Although the prevalence of these skin diseases is low, the associated male infertility represents a challenge due to the difficulty of its management. Clinical management of the skin diseases should include consideration of their effects not only on the diseases but also on the male reproductive system.