Hormonal Profile Abnormalities Among Oligozoospermic and Azoospermic Men With Infertility: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction Male infertility contributes substantially to infertility worldwide, and hormonal abnormalities play an important role in impaired spermatogenesis and reproductive function. Evaluation of hormonal status may aid in identifying potentially treatable causes of male infertility. Objective This study aims to compare the frequency and pattern of abnormalities in serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, and prolactin between infertile men with oligozoospermia and those with azoospermia presenting to a tertiary care hospital. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Departments of Pathology and Urology at Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan, from January 2021 to March 2022. Males aged 20-55 years with sperm concentration <15 million/mL on semen analysis (oligozoospermia) or absence of sperm in ejaculate (azoospermia), presenting for infertility evaluation and management, were included. Serum LH, FSH, testosterone, and prolactin levels were measured. Patients aged >55 years or with a history of chemotherapy, pelvic surgery, mumps, or hernia were excluded. Hormonal profiles were compared between oligozoospermic and azoospermic groups. Results Among 213 infertile males, the mean age was 34 ± 7.87 years. Oligozoospermia was present in 123 (57.7%) participants and azoospermia in 90 (42.3%). Among azoospermic males, seven (7.8%) had primary hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, 19 (21.1%) had secondary hypogonadism, nine (10.0%) had primary spermatogenic failure, four (4.4%) had a biochemical profile consistent with partial androgen resistance, three (3.3%) had hyperprolactinemia, and 48 (53.3%) had a normal hormonal profile. Corresponding frequencies among oligozoospermic males were four (3.3%), 24 (19.5%), 11 (8.9%), five (4.1%), two (1.6%), and 77 (62.6%), respectively. The overall distribution of hormonal-profile categories did not differ significantly between the oligozoospermic and azoospermic groups (exact P=0.593). Conclusion Hormonal abnormalities were observed in both oligozoospermic and azoospermic infertile men, although the distribution of the evaluated hormonal-profile categories did not differ significantly between the two groups. These findings support the clinical value of hormonal assessment as part of the etiological evaluation of selected men presenting with infertility.