Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-17T14:50:44.622Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Chapter 25 - Nonsurgical treatment of male infertility:

empiric therapy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 May 2010

Larry I. Lipshultz
Affiliation:
Baylor College of Medicine
Stuart S. Howards
Affiliation:
University of Virginia
Craig S. Niederberger
Affiliation:
University of Illinois, Chicago
Get access

Summary

This chapter reviews the empiric therapies available today for male infertility and discusses their mode of action. It reviews published literature on outcomes available and analyzes the evidence for use and dosing recommendations. With the exception of low-dose vitamin supplementation and aromatase inhibitors, empiric therapy is seldom recommended in the treatment of the infertile male. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulates the synthesis and release of the gonadotropic hormones, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), in the anterior pituitary. Treatment of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism with exogenous gonadotropins or GnRH has produced good results compared with treatment of other male infertility problems. Exogenous testosterone therapy can produce azoospermia or severe oligospermia through the inhibition of gonadotropin secretion. Glutathione therapy has been used in various pathologic conditions in which reactive oxygen species are thought to play a pathogenic role. Administration of high-dose antioxidants has a potential beneficial effect on male fertility.
Type
Chapter
Information
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×