P-40: Characteristics of Gonadotrophins in Azoospermic Patients in Plateau State, Nigeria

Background: Azoospermia is the total absence of sperm cells from a patients semen sample after centrifugation. It could be obstructive or non-obstructive and its associated causes include chromosomal defects, infections, gonadotrophins imbalance, and etc in the patients. The objective is to determine the prevalence of primary testicular failure, germinal insufficiency, obstructive azoospermia and non-azoospermia in azoospermic patients in Plateau State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: 73 azoospermic male patients of ages between 25-45 years old attending the infertility clinic of the Center for Reproductive Health Research, (CRHR) Jos, Nigeria, from 2008-2009 were selected for the study. Personal history were taken. Semen samples were collected after four days of abstinence and analyzed using 1999 WHO manual for semen examination. Subsequently, their 5 ml of blood samples were collected for follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormones (LH) assays and using enzyme immunoassay method at 550/492nm. Results: 73 azoospermic patients&#039; semen and blood for FSH, LH assays were studied. 30(41%) had increased FSH and LH, 37(51%) had increased FSH and normal LH, and 6(8%) had normal FSH and LH. Also, mean increased of FSH and LH are 48.29 and 31.08(p<0.00), mean increased of FSH and normal LH are 27.85 and 8.66(p<0.00), and means for normal FSH and LH are 4.28 and 5.78 (p<0.01). Conclusion: 92% 0f studied azoospermic patients had gonadotrophins imbalance and this contributed to 41% primary testicular failure and 51% germinal insufficiency in non-azoospermic patients. Furthermore, 8% azoospermic patients had normal gonadotrophin levels which is associated with obstructive azoospermia. Endocrinopathies are common causes of azoospermia and contributed to increased percentage of primary testicular failure and germinal insufficiency in azoospermic patients in Plateau State, Nigeria. The main reason for this is not known but it could be to environmental factors, endocrine distruptors and genetic polymorphism.