Parameters of response to clompiphene citrate in oligospermic men

Twenty oligospermic young men have undergone a 6-month trial of intermittent low dose clomiphene therapy. Three-fourths of the patients enjoyed an increase in semen quality and 8 patients impregnated their wives. Plasma luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and testosterone levels increased in all patients on clomiphene. Development of stringent criteria for the use of clomiphene citrate should result in a conception rate of more than 50 per cent in selected patients. Hypotheses concerning the mechanism of therapeutic response to clomiphene included the induction of higher levels of testosterone locally around the germinal epithelium and the induction of increased follicle-stimulating hormone levels.