Pentoxifylline and antioxidants improve sperm quality in male patients with varicocele

Fertil Steril. 2009 Apr;91(4 Suppl):1536-9. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.09.024. Epub 2008 Nov 5.

Abstract

We examined the effect of 12 weeks of daily oral administration of pentoxifylline with zinc and folic acid on the semen quality of 36 men with varicocele-associated infertility in an open, uncontrolled study. After 4 weeks of treatment, the proportion of morphologically normal sperm cells was significantly increased; these changes persisted until at least 4 weeks after the end of treatment.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antioxidants / administration & dosage
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Folic Acid / administration & dosage
  • Folic Acid / pharmacology*
  • Free Radical Scavengers / administration & dosage
  • Free Radical Scavengers / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Infertility, Male / drug therapy
  • Infertility, Male / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Pentoxifylline / administration & dosage
  • Pentoxifylline / pharmacology*
  • Reproductive Techniques, Assisted
  • Sperm Motility / drug effects*
  • Sperm Motility / physiology
  • Spermatozoa / drug effects*
  • Spermatozoa / physiology
  • Varicocele / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Free Radical Scavengers
  • Folic Acid
  • Pentoxifylline