Oligospermia (Oligozoospermia)

A condition of suboptimal concentration of SPERMATOZOA in the ejaculated SEMEN to ensure successful FERTILIZATION of an OVUM. In humans, oligospermia is defined as a sperm count below 20 million per milliliter semen.

Also Known As:

Oligozoospermia; Hypospermatogenesis; Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia; Cryptospermias; Cryptozoospermias; Hypospermatogeneses; Low Sperm Counts; Oligoasthenoteratozoospermias; Sperm Count, Low; Sperm Counts, Low; Cryptospermia; Cryptozoospermia; Low Sperm Count

Networked: 1496 relevant articles (63 outcomes, 193 trials/studies)

Relationship Network

Disease Context: Research Results

Urogenital Diseases: 126
- Genital Diseases: 114
  - Infertility: 19837
    - Male Infertility: 5151
      - Oligospermia: 1496
        isolated Follicle-stimulating hormone deficiency: 15
        Young Syndrome: 1
  - Male Genital Diseases: 2
    - Male Infertility: 5151
      - Oligospermia: 1496
        isolated Follicle-stimulating hormone deficiency: 15
        Young Syndrome: 1
- Male Urogenital Diseases
  - Male Genital Diseases: 2
    - Male Infertility: 5151
      - Oligospermia: 1496
        isolated Follicle-stimulating hormone deficiency: 15
        Young Syndrome: 1

Related Diseases

1.	Azoospermia
2.	Asthenozoospermia
3.	Varicocele
4.	Male Infertility (Male Sterility)
5.	Oligospermia (Oligozoospermia)

Experts

1.	Foresta, Carlo: 10 articles (01/2021 - 02/2002)
2.	Garolla, Andrea: 9 articles (01/2021 - 02/2002)
3.	Zhang, Wei: 8 articles (01/2021 - 01/2006)
4.	Ferlin, Alberto: 7 articles (01/2021 - 02/2002)
5.	Li, Wei: 7 articles (10/2020 - 02/2007)
6.	Xia, Yankai: 7 articles (10/2018 - 09/2008)
7.	Calogero, Aldo E: 6 articles (12/2022 - 01/2014)
8.	Cannarella, Rossella: 6 articles (12/2022 - 01/2014)
9.	Condorelli, Rosita A: 6 articles (12/2022 - 01/2014)
10.	La Vignera, Sandro: 6 articles (12/2022 - 01/2014)

Drugs and Biologics

Drugs and Important Biological Agents (IBA) related to Oligospermia:

1.	Testosterone (Sustanon)FDA Link 01/01/2022 - "All treatments with nutraceuticals improved sperm count, sperm morphology, serum testosterone, vacuolization of seminiferous tubules, and oligospermia in diseased rats. " 12/01/2010 - "In a subsequent reversibility study, intact male dogs exhibited decreased LH, testosterone, and FSH, which exhibited recovery by 2 weeks post-dosing; however, seminiferous tubule degeneration and oligospermia did not exhibit recovery by 2 weeks post-dosing. " 03/01/2000 - "Though supraphysiological doses testosterone (T) and its derivatives are known to suppress spermatogenesis in mammals by interfering with the hypothalamus-pituitary axis leading to oligozoospermia, no study has been performed to evaluate the integrity of the sperm cells produced by such individuals. " 01/01/2023 - "We constructed an HE4 overexpression mouse model (HE4-OE), and observed that HE4-OE male adult mice had small testes, low sperm counts, and elevated serum/testis testosterone levels. " 01/01/2023 - "The gonads can be directly impaired through oxidative stress, causing poor testosterone production and spermatogenesis; low sperm count, viability, and motility; and abnormal sperm morphology, which results in low sperm quality. "
2.	Contraceptive Agents (Contraceptives)IBA 01/01/2007 - "For hormonal contraceptives the long-term efficacy of oligospermia in a large population of unselected men remains to be determined. " 06/01/2009 - "A definition of severe oligozoospermia (< or =1 x 10(6)/ml) was used as a criterion of spermatogenic suppression and as the threshold for entering the contraceptive efficacy phase. " 06/01/1995 - "Two multicentre studies of the contraceptive efficacy of azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia were conducted in 16 centres in 10 countries. " 04/01/1996 - "To determine contraceptive efficacy of hormonally induced sperm suppression to severe oligozoospermia or azoospermia. " 06/01/2014 - "A serious drawback of the treatment is that a significant proportion of men do not reach azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia, commensurate with contraceptive efficacy. "
3.	Tamoxifen FDA LinkGeneric 01/01/1981 - "This study of the effects of long-term tamoxifen administration on semen analysis of oligospermic males confirms the potential therapeutic efficacy in normogonadotrophic oligospermia. " 02/01/1992 - "There is no conclusive evidence of the usefulness of tamoxifen in the treatment of idiopathic oligozoospermia (OAT-syndrome), as it has been used mostly in uncontrolled studies. " 02/01/1992 - "Treatment of idiopathic oligozoospermia with tamoxifen--a randomized controlled study." 12/01/1988 - "Three months of tamoxifen treatment of 43 men with idiopathic oligozoospermia, out of which 20 completed the study, resulted in a significant enhancement of sperm motility, but the improvement of sperm parameters was in no relation to the FSH response to short time tamoxifen treatment. " 09/01/1985 - "Open and double-blind therapeutic studies were carried out on the effects of tamoxifen in oligozoospermia. "
4.	Carnitine (L-Carnitine)FDA LinkGeneric 06/01/2020 - "Yihechun Capsules combined with Levocarnitine oral liquid is evidently effective for the treatment of oligozoospermia and asthenospermia." 08/01/2008 - "The concentrations of total seminal plasma levocarnitine, free seminal plasma levocarnitine and seminal plasma acetolevocarnitine were (91.33 +/- 40.49) mg/L, (40.89 +/- 24.13) mg/L and (50.44 +/- 21.90) mg/L; the Pearson coefficients of correlation of the levocarnitine level with sperm motility, vitality and concentration were 0.161 (P = 0.235), 0.114 (P = 0.370) and 0.637 (P < 0.001), those of free seminal carnitine with sperm motility and vitality were 0.325 (P = 0.024) and 0.316 (P = 0.029), respectively, with the oligozoospermia group excluded, and that of partial correlation between the concentrations of seminal levocarnitine and sperm was 0.641 (P < 0.001). " 01/01/1991 - "Our results have led us to fix the threshold value of 42.6 mlU per ejaculate for alpha-1,4-glucosidase and 960 nanomoles of L-carnitine below those levels that we thought occur where the origin of the oligospermia is obstructive (series 1 patients). " 01/01/2018 - "To observe the clinical effects of Huanshao Capsules (HSC) combined with levocarnitine (LC) on asthenospermia, oligospermia, teratozoospermia, and the semen parameters of the patients. " 01/01/2018 - "[Huanshao Capsules combined with levocarnitine for the treatment of asthenospermia, oligospermia and teratozoospermia]."
5.	SteroidsIBA 01/01/1984 - "Androgenic steroids induce oligospermia at high doses, but few studies have assessed which cell types and spermatogenic processes are affected. " 04/01/1981 - "The study thus showed that abnormalities in the testicular steroid producing apparatus exist in hypospermatogenesis and could be the cause of the spermatogenetic failure. " 03/01/1982 - "We studied steroid metabolites of 35 men with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia. " 08/01/1980 - "The combination of slightly elevated serum LH levels with unchanged basal serum levels of gonadal steroids suggests that men with idiopathic oligospermia have a mild, compensated Leydig cell defect. " 04/01/1989 - "These findings demonstrated an antifertility action of MPA and T enanthate on the functional capacity of residual spermatozoa and support the view that extreme oligozoospermia may be a tenable target for reversible steroid male contraception."
6.	Clomiphene (Clomifene)FDA LinkGeneric 08/01/1988 - "This study evaluated LH pulsatility in patients with idiopathic normogonadotropic oligospermia (INO) and normal men before and after clomiphene citrate (CC) administration. " 07/01/2015 - "We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of clomiphene citrate on sperm parameters in men with oligospermia. " 11/01/2005 - "Clomiphene citrate is a well-established agent that has been empirically used in cases of idiopathic oligospermia. " 06/01/1992 - "Development of Leydig cell tumour in association with clomiphene treatment for oligozoospermia." 11/01/1988 - "Clomiphene citrate treatment in oligozoospermia: comparison between two regimens of low-dose treatment."
7.	Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH)FDA Link 05/01/1997 - "These findings indicate that the semen quality of dogs with oligozoospermia can be temporarily improved between 2 and 4 weeks after a single injection of GnRH-A or hCG and the fertility of the dogs restored by the injection." 02/01/1988 - "This study investigated the stimulatory potential of a superactive gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue in idiopathic oligozoospermia. " 08/01/1994 - "Leydig cell function was investigated in 71 men with idiopathic oligospermia and compared to 14 fertile controls by assessing the steroidogenic response to GnRH and the repetitive administration of hCG (1500 IU x3). " 10/01/1989 - "Attempts to treat idiopathic oligozoospermia by altering LHRH pulse frequency is therefore unlikely to yield any clinical benefit." 02/01/1986 - "Thus increased FSH levels in men with idiopathic oligospermia can be selectively reduced by pulsatile LHRH treatment. "
8.	Kallikreins (Kallikrein)IBA 03/01/1984 - "In a controlled double blind trial the effectiveness and tolerability of Kallikrein in patients suffering from astheno-oligozoospermia was examined in comparison to placebo. " 05/01/1991 - "To illustrate the influence of kallikrein on the hypoosmotic swelling test, 84 human semen samples were classified into 4 groups: normospermia (n = 34, group A), oligospermia (n = 18, group B), asthenospermia (n = 8, group C), and oligoasthenospermia (n = 24, group D). " 06/01/1987 - "A single-blind study on the effects of kallikrein in idiopathic oligozoospermia was carried out. " 06/01/1987 - "Effects of kallikrein on the male reproductive system and its use in the treatment of idiopathic oligozoospermia with impaired motility." 11/01/1983 - "The effectiveness of various forms of endocrine treatment for idiopathic oligozoospermia and the action of kallikrein on sperm parameters were evaluated in a retrospective study including 321 individuals with normogonadotropic idiopathic oligozoospermia (sperm count less than 20 Mio/ml). "
9.	GonadotropinsIBA 09/22/2018 - "Testis spermatogenesis ability would be improved via inhibiting high endogenous gonadotropin in patients with severe oligozoospermia. " 07/01/2012 - "This study suggests that some men with severe oligospermia, low T levels, and normal gonadotropin concentration may have a treatable endocrinopathy." 01/01/1964 - "[PRELIMINARY STUDIES OF THE TREATMENT OF AVERAGE OLIGOSPERMIA BY HUMAN GONADOTROPINS EXTRACTED FROM THE URINE OF MENOPAUSAL WOMEN (H.M.G.)]." 01/01/2019 - "Previous reports have only described cases with either oligozoospermia, growth retardation, or elevated gonadotropins. " 04/01/2013 - "Long-term preservation of normal hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal function in this patient, contrasting with his severe oligospermia, strongly suggests that DAX1 is required for human spermatogenesis, independently of its known role in gonadotropin secretion."
10.	Estradiol (Delestrogen)FDA LinkGeneric 02/01/1996 - "It was shown that patients with oligozoospermia who do not react with an increase of spermatozoa during the longterm antioestrogen treatment had higher response of oestradiol in the dynamic test (+ 118.9%) than the normospermic males (+ 60.8%) or the oligozoospermic who showed positive semenologic response to the treatment (+ 58.8%). " 02/01/1991 - "In oligozoospermia, with high values of E2/T ratio, it is considered that the role of estradiol is suppressive to spermatogenesis. " 12/20/1992 - "[Studies on the production rate of estradiol in the testis in male infertility--studies of the predictive values on therapeutic efficacy in patients with oligozoospermia]." 07/23/2021 - "Serum estradiol and ESRα levels were lower in infertile men with normozoospermia than in those with azoospermia, oligozoospermia, mild azoospermia, or malformed spermatozoa (all P < .05). " 02/01/1996 - "The evaluation was made of the response to testosterone and oestradiol in the test (50 mg twice daily for 10 days) and HCG test (6000 units of Biogonadyl through 2 days) performed on 21 normospermic (fertile) males and on patients with normogonadotropic, idiopathic oligozoospermia, positively (12 patients) or negatively (24 males) reacting to the longterm Clostilbegyt treatment (50 mg daily for 240 days). "

Therapies and Procedures

1.	Therapeutics 03/01/2022 - "We conclude that hCG therapy can be beneficial in men with hypogonadic oligozoospermia or severe oligozoospermia." 02/01/2012 - "HCG-based hormonal therapy prior to a second micro-TESE attempt is effective in men with hypospermatogenesis." 09/01/1994 - "The study was designed to be an open test for short-term efficacy of rec hGH-therapy on spermatogenesis of ten infertile men with idiopathic severe oligozoospermia (1-5 x 10(6)) and normogonadotropinemia or moderate ipergonadotropinemia (FSH: range 1.90-9.60 IU/L, mean +/- SD 5.78 +/- 2.84; LH: 2.70-12.70 IU/L, mean +/- SD 6.60 +/- 3.61). " 04/01/2008 - "In one study, approximately one in eight men experienced oligospermia 1 year after RAI therapy. " 07/01/2023 - "FSH therapy should be considered for infertile male patients with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia and normal serum FSH levels to quantitatively and qualitatively improve sperm parameters and pregnancy and birth rates. "
2.	Ligation 01/01/2019 - "To assess the outcome of varicocelectomy in infertile men with severe oligozoospermia and clinical varicocoeles and to compare internal spermatic artery preservation vs. artery ligation. " 07/01/1968 - "Ligature of left spermatic vein in the treatment of oligospermia." 01/01/2019 - "In this study, we performed multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) analysis on 402 fertile healthy male controls and 423 idiopathic infertile SF patients (197 azoospermia and 226 oligozoospermia) in Han Chinese population. " 01/01/2021 - "A 28-year-old man with oligospermia (7 million/ml of seminal fluid), surgically treated 2 years ago for clinical grade III bilateral varicocele (according to Dubin's classification), was admitted to the Urology Department for suspected accidental surgical ligation of the left vas deferens. " 02/01/2012 - "To investigate the possibility of applying multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) to the detection of azoospermia factor (AZF) microdeletion on the Y chromosome in infertile men with azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia. "
3.	Lasers (Laser) 01/01/2021 - "Conclusion: Laser acupuncture as a non-invasive procedure is effective in improving sperm mobility and concentration in infertile patients with oligospermia. " 01/01/2021 - "This study evaluated the effect of laser acupuncture on semen parameters in infertile patients with oligospermia. " 01/01/2021 - "The Effect of Laser Acupuncture on Semen Parameters in Infertile Men With Oligospermia: A Randomized Clinical Trial." 01/01/2004 - "Moreover, it was revealed that low doses of laser light have a biostimulatory effect on the spermatogenesis and may provide benefits to the patients with oligospermia and azoospermia." 03/01/2009 - "To analyze the spectrometric semen protein profiling of oligospermia patients and healthy controls by surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS), and to establish a semen marker pattern for the diagnosis of oligospermia. "
4.	Sclerotherapy 03/01/2006 - "Out of the 15 patients with initial azoospermia 8 (53 %) showed cryptozoospermia (OAT/OT syndrome) after antegrade sclerotherapy. " 03/01/2006 - "The aim of this study was to prove the efficacy of antegrade sclerotherapy for varicocele testis in patients with azoospermia and in patients with cryptozoospermia (less than 0.1 million spermatozoons/mL ejaculate). "
5.	Kampo Medicine (Kampo) 01/01/2015 - "Hachimijiogan (HJG, Rehmannia Eight Formula), a kidney-replenishing Kampo formula, is clinically known to be effective in the treatment of male infertility with oligozoospermia. "