Is There a Role for Hormonal Therapy in Men with Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT)?

Abstract

Hormonal factors play an essential role as an underlying causative factor of oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT), and these patients can benefit from hormonal medications that modulate the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. This review aims to outline the various medications used as hormonal therapy in treating infertile men with OAT. This manuscript focuses on essential hormonal evaluation, identifying men who would benefit from treatment, selecting the appropriate medication, determining the duration of therapy, and evaluating hormonal treatment outcomes. Additionally, novel markers that can broaden the horizon of hormonal treatment in infertile men with OAT are discussed. Hormonal-based therapy options in men with OAT include selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), aromatase inhibitors (AIs), dopamine agonists, and injections such as gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs and gonadotropins. Treatment duration and the expected success will dictate the final treatment type for couples. In conclusion, hormonal therapy may improve spermatogenesis in infertile men with low serum testosterone. Gonadotropins and SERMs may increase sperm parameters in men with infertility and normal serum gonadotropin levels. AIs might help improve spermatogenesis in infertile men with a total testosterone (ng/mL)/estradiol (pg/mL) ratio < 0.10. In addition, dopamine agonists may play a role in enhancing spermatogenesis in infertile men with hyperprolactinemia.