[Therapy of idiopathic astheno- and oligozoospermia with pentoxifylline]

25 men with idiopathic asthenozoospermia and 40 men with idiopathic normogonadotropic oligozoospermia were treated for three months by systemic pentoxifylline administration (1,2 g per day orally). In the asthenozoospermia group a statistically significant increase of progressive sperm motility was observed. Conception rate within the asthenozoospermic group was calculated to be 37%. In the oligozoospermic group semen parameters were not affected. There was only a small transitory increase of the ejaculate volumen an seminal plasma fructose level. The conception rate within this group of oligozoospermic men was calculated to be 17%. As mode of action of systemic pentoxifylline treatment an improvement of the microcirculation within the epididymis and the male accessory sexual glands is discussed which may lead to an improved epididymal sperm maturation and an amelioration of the biochemical composition of the secretions of the male accessory sexual glands.