Scrotal and oral temperatures are not related to semen quality of serum gonadotropin levels in spinal cord-injured men.

Scrotal temperature, oral temperature, and the difference between oral and scrotal temperature were measured in spinal cord-injured subjects (SCI) and non-injured subjects as controls. We statistically correlated these measures to semen quality and serum gonadotropin levels in both groups. No difference was found between SCI and control subjects on any temperature measurement. Mean sperm motility, mean sperm morphology, and mean serum gonadotropin levels were significantly lower in SCI compared to control subjects, but these measures were not correlated to scrotal temperature, oral temperature, or the difference between oral and scrotal temperature in SCI or control subjects. These data indicate that: 1) there is not a generalized scrotal thermoregulatory dysfunction in SCI men; 2) scrotal temperature does not appear to contribute to poor semen quality in SCI men; and 3) elevated gonadotropin levels are not related to elevated scrotal temperatures in SCI men, as has been reported in non-injured, infertile men.