MATERIALS AND METHODS: Men treated with
testolactone had an increase in
testosterone-to-
estradiol ratios during
therapy (mean plus or minus standard error of the mean 5.3 +/- 0.2 versus 12.4 +/- 1.1, p <0.001). This change was confirmed in subgroups of men with the
Klinefelter syndrome, a history of
varicocele repair and those with
varicocele. A total of 12 oligospermic men had semen analysis before and during
testolactone treatment with an increase in sperm concentration (5.5 versus 11.2 million sperm per ml., p <0.01), motility (14.7% versus 21.0%, p <0.05), morphology (6.5% versus 12.8%, p = 0.05), and motility index (606.3 versus 1685.2 million motile sperm per ejaculate, respectively, p <0.05) appreciated. During
anastrozole treatment, similar changes in the
testosterone-to-
estradiol ratios were seen (7.2 +/- 0.3 versus 18.1 +/- 1.0, respectively, p <0.001). This improvement of hormonal parameters was noted for all subgroups except those patients with the
Klinefelter syndrome. A total of 25 oligospermic men with semen analysis before and during
anastrozole treatment had an increase in semen volume (2.9 versus 3.5 ml., p <0.05), sperm concentration (5.5 versus 15.6 million sperm per ml., p <0.001) and motility index (832.8 versus 2930.8 million motile sperm per ejaculate, respectively, p <0.005). These changes were similar to those observed in men treated with
testolactone. No significant difference in serum
testosterone levels during treatment with
testolactone and
anastrozole was observed. However, the
anastrozole treatment group did have a statistically better improvement of serum
estradiol concentration and
testosterone-to-
estradiol ratios (p <0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: