Male Reproductive Endocrinology: When to Replace Gonadotropins

Abstract

Infertility is generally defined as a couple's inability to conceive after 1 year of unprotected intercourse. When infertile couples seek assistance, a male factor will be identified half of the time. Once the male has been evaluated, there are four main categories to describe his infertility: (1) idiopathic, (2) post-testicular/obstructive, (3) primary—where the Sertoli and/or Leydig cells of the testis fail, and (4) secondary—where there is a problem with the hypothalamus and/or pituitary. The last, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH), accounts for up to 2% of infertile men. HH is either congenital or acquired and usually can be successfully treated by medical intervention. This review will focus on the hypothalamus–pituitary–gonadal axis, specific defects of this coordination center, and potential interventions for improving male-factor fertility.

Keywords

male infertility - hypogonadotropic hypogonadism - gonadotropin deficiency - recombinant - replacement

• References

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