THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PLASMA-LEVELS OF GONADOTROPINS, ANDROGENS, AND PROLACTIN IN AZOOSPERMIC MEN WITH THEIR TESTICULAR SPERMATOGENIC PATTERN

Objective: To assess the relationship between plasma levels of gonadotropins, androgens, and PRL with testicular spermatogenic pattern. Design: Patient series. Setting: University affiliated medical center. Patients: One hundred twenty azoospermic infertile men. Interventions: Testicular fine needle aspirations and determination of plasma levels of FSH, LH, T, free T, and PRL. Main Outcome Measures: Gonadotropins, androgens, and PRL plasma levels as a diagnostic criterion of testicular spermatogenic patterns. Results: No statistically significant differences were detected in plasma levels of LK, androgens, and PRL among patients with Sertoli cell only, spermatogenic arrest, or full spermatogenesis. Elevated plasma levels of FSH threefold above the upper normal limit preclude, with a probability of 95%, the existence of full testicular spermatogenesis, but are not valid for the diagnosis of either Sertoli cell only syndrome or spermatogenic arrest. Conclusions: Luteinizing hormone, androgens, and PRL plasma levels are of no diagnostic value in predicting any specific spermatogenic pattern, and plasma FSH levels can not be used for diagnosing Sertoli cell only syndrome.