[Medical treatment of male infertility]

The opinions of specialists on the medical treatment of male infertility has been altered by two events: the advent of epidemiology, which demands studies with control cases, and the advances achieved in in vitro fertilization. Apart from cases of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, no type of male hypofertility has found an unquestionably effective treatment. Yet it is probable that varicocelectomy, treatment of genital infection and, in rare cases of hormonal deficiency, hormonal treatments that stimulate Leydig and Sertoli cells may have positive effects. In idiopathic oligo-astheno-teratospermia, which is the most frequently encountered type of infertility, several treatments are currently being tested but have not been fully evaluated. Quite recently, attempts at treating patients immediately before in vitro fertilization have started, but the results are not yet available.