Clomiphene stimulation test in men with idiopathic hypospermatogenesis

A standardized clomiphene stimulation test with assay of serum FSH, LH, testosterone and oestradiol and urinary androsterone + aetiocholanolone, dehydro-epiandrosterone and total oestrogens was applied to 23 men with idiopathic hypospermatogenesis as compared with 12 normal controls. In the patients the percentual rise of LH was increased and the percentual rise of testosterone and oestradiol decreased as compared with controls. The study thus showed that abnormalities in the testicular steroid producing apparatus exist in hypospermatogenesis and could be the cause of the spermatogenetic failure. It was further showed that the reserve capacity of the testicular steroid production is highly limited in contrast to the large reserve capacity of gonadotrophin production in the hypophysis.