Two hundred fifty subfertile men with idiopathic
oligospermia (count less than 20 million/ml) were treated with
mesterolone (100-150 mg/day) for 12 months. Seminal analysis were assayed 3 times and serum
follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
luteinizing hormone (LH) and plasma
testosterone were assayed once before treatment and repeated at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after the initiation of treatment. One hundred ten patients (44%) had normal serum FSH, LH and plasma
testosterone, 85 patients (34%) had low serum FSH, LH and low plasma
testosterone. One hundred seventy-five patients (70%) had moderate
oligospermia (count 5 to less than 20 million/ml) and 75 patients (30%) had severe
oligospermia (count less than 5 million/ml). Seventy-five moderately oligospermic patients showed significant improvement in the sperm density, total sperm count and motility following
mesterolone therapy whereas only 12% showed improvement in the severe oligospermic group.
Mesterolone had no depressing effect on low or normal serum FSH and LH levels but had depressing effect on 25% if the levels were elevated. There was no significant adverse effect on
testosterone levels or on liver function. One hundred fifteen (46%) pregnancies resulted following the treatment, 9 of 115 (7.8%) aborted and 2 (1.7%) had
ectopic pregnancy.
Mesterolone was found to be more useful in patients with a sperm count ranging between 5 and 20 million/ml. Those with severe
oligospermia (count less than 5 million) do not seem to benefit from this
therapy.