Pituitary gonadotropin response to luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) in males with azo- and oligospermia.

Twenty-one males with azo- or oligospermia presenting with infertility and with no evidence of organic disease were studied with luteinizing hormone - releasing hormone (LH-RH). A pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) response was present in all cases and was normal in the majority of the subjects. Serum testosterone and 17 beta estradiol levels were normal in all cases studied. No significant correlations were found between the gonadotropin estimations and sperm count, basal serum testosterone or testosterone response to human chorionic gonadotropin. It is concluded that LH-RH is of limited diagnostic use in the investigation of this group of patients with male infertility and provides no further insight into the pathogenesis of this condition.