15, 16) some seminiferous tubules had hypoplasia and
oligospermia, but other tubules were regaining normal cell distribution and had normal leydig cells, increase of sperm and normal spacing between tubules.
Seminal fluid infection and
oligospermia. Trop J Obst Gynaecol.
The association of STDs and urinary tract infections to the high rate of
oligospermia and azoospermia was also reported in Onitsha, eastern Nigeria.
Sperm deficiencies can include low sperm production (
oligospermia) or lack of sperm (azoospermia).
Maugh (1981) evidenced that the gossypol alters the spermatogenesis, causing
oligospermia and aspermia, by inhibiting the lactate dehydrogenase X, an enzyme that plays a key role in spermatozoa metabolism.
One of the difficult aspects of treating infertile males with idiopathic
oligospermia is the non-availability of recommended medical therapies for men11.
Hormonal assays for patients having
oligospermia were as follow: luteinizing hormone (LH) 12.56+-3.90, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) 5.96+-1.17, testosterone 10.13+-2.40 and prolactin 13.42+-2.43, while normospermic patients had the following hormone levels: LH: 7.72+-3.90, FSH: 2.93+-.74, testosterone: 17.00+-3.36 and, prolactin: 12.45+-2.16.
The patient underwent a work-up for infertility six months prior to his admission and was found to have
oligospermia despite his normal testosterone levels: he had then undergone hormonal therapy for six months prior to his presentation.
Oligospermia or azoospermia point toward hypogonadism.
The World Health Organization has defined
oligospermia (low sperm concentration) as less than 15 million sperm per ml.