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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Friday, July 4, 2008
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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Friday, July 4, 2008
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Infertility |
Hypogonadism and infertility05/06/2008 05:01PM |
I was diagnosed with Hypogonadism in November of 2007 at the age of 33. I was extremely tired all the time, my muscles atrophied, I lost some weight. I was depressed. I would injure very easily when I was playing sports. I had no endurance. I even could not sleep longer then 4-5 hours in a night. After running extensive tests I was diagnosed with Low testosterone. The first test came out at 141 and the second confirmed it at 243. She quickly slapped me with a perscription of androgel and said that low testosterone was very normal. What I didn`t realize is that androgel causes infertility. The endocrinologist I was referred to was upset that they never referred me to him as soon as it was diagnosed. Instead I saw him 6 months later. I felt better taking the gel, but felt about 90%. That is when they referred me to him. He did a physical examination, ran blood tests and checked a head MRI that was done, but was not pituitary gland focused. Everything turned out negative for cancer. He said everything check out fine with me with the only exception being that he saw was that I had low vitamin D. When I asked him about having kids. He said that the androgel would make me infertile. I am going to be married in about 6 months and he told me that I would not be able to have any children. He said that I would have to come off the androgel for about 6 weeks. He said that would be enough time to allow the pituitary gland to kick back in. He could then find out if it was a problem with the pituitary gland or the testes. If it was the pituitary gland he could use some sort of drug to possibly stimulate it to produce testosterone. He said that I would also need to see a urologist to figure out my sperm count during that time. My question is two fold. Why does the androgel cause infertility? Does that mean it is impossible for us to conceive while I am taking the androgel?Thanks,
This is a question that would best be answered by a urologist specializing in male infertility. However, given male hormone in large amounts prevents the brain from stimulating the testes to make sperm. Stopping the male hormone eventually allows sperm production to recover, under normal conditions. In your situation, it may be necessary to take fertility medications to help the brain to stimulate your testes, or medications which stimulate your testes directly. It would probably make sense to have a semen analysis to see where you actually are, in terms of your sperm counts.
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Daniel B Williams, MD Professor Director, Center for Reproductive Health Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology College of Medicine University of Cincinnati |
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