Empirical medical therapy for idiopathic male infertility

Abstract

Objective: To determine if there has been a change in empirical medical therapy (EMT) practices since a 2010 American Urological Association survey reported that 25% of urologists treated infertile men who were pursuing a pregnancy with testosterone (T). Design: Survey-based cohort study of AUA members. Setting: Practice patterns were evaluated of urologists in academic and nonacademic hospital centers. Patient(s): Practice patterns were evaluated in the treatment of men with idiopathic infertility. Interventions(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Subgroup analysis by means of univariate analysis between means (Fisher exact test) and descriptive proportions was used to compare male infertility fellowship–trained urologists (RUs) to general urologists (non-RUs). Result(s): A total of 191 urologists responded (4.7%). Excluding trainees, 164 responses (85.9%) were analyzed: 134 (82.3%) were from non-RUs and 29 from (17.7%) RUs. Over all, 65.9% treated male infertility with a combination of EMT and surgery (93.1% of RU vs. 60.4% of non-RUs). The most common medications used by RUs were clomiphene (100%), anastrozole (85.7%), and hCG/LH (82.1%). Non-RUs used these less frequently. Overall, 24.4% of the urologists reported that they would use T to treat male infertility: 14.4% (n = 4) of RUs and 24.4% (n = 30) of non-RUs. Conclusion(s): A total of 65.9% of urologists would treat male infertility with the use of EMT and surgery. The most common EMTs were clomiphene, anastrozole, and hCG/LH. Of concern, 24.4% of urologists considered T to treat male infertility, a medication with known contraceptive potential. This is unchanged from the 2010 survey, and confirms the need for reproductive medicine guidelines that include the topic of EMT use in infertile men.