Changes in semen quality and fertility in response to endocrine treatment of subfertile men

786 subfertile men received hormonal treatment in order to improve their semen quality and concentration. Most of the patient's semen was characterised as idiopathic oligo or asthenozoospermia. No cases of hypothalamohypopituitary-hypogonadism were included in this study. 117 men received human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG); 47% showed improvement in semen quality mainly in motility and morphology: 10 pregnancies were recorded among 44 couples (23%). 37 received human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) + hCG; 46% improvement in semen quality, mainly in the motility and concentration was seen: 3 pregnancies were recorded among 20 couples (15%). 60 men received clomiphene citrate; 47% showed improvement in semen quality mainly in the concentration and motility: 2 pregnancies were recorded among 33 couples (6%). 270 men received androgen, usually in small doses; 61% had improvement in semen quality, mainly in the motility and morphology: 24 pregnancies were recorded among 58 couples (41%). 262 men received pregnant mare serum (PMS; Gestyl) and testosterone; 71% had improvement in semen quality in all the parameters measured especially in motility and vitality, but only 24 pregnancies were recorded among 87 couples (28%). 40 men received treatment for improvement of potency which included androgen, yohimbine and strychnine; 60% improvement in sexual potency, 65% showed a significant improvement in semen quality: 4 pregnancies were recorded among 15 couples (27%). The parameters for improvement of sperm quality were motility, concentration, morphology and vitality. Improvement in semen quality was not necessarily correlated with impregnation of the wives.