A controlled comparison of the efficacy of clomiphene citrate in male infertility

Fertil Steril. 1988 May;49(5):865-70. doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)59898-7.

Abstract

To determine whether clomiphene citrate (CC) improves fertility in oligospermic men, 23 men with sperm concentrations between 0.5 and 20 million sperm per milliliter; normal serum gonadotropins and testosterone; and a presumptively fertile partner were enrolled in the study. After a 3-month control period, patients were randomly prescribed CC, 25 mg/day; or placebo, 1 tablet/day, for 12 months. The pregnancy rates for the CC group and the placebo group were 9.09% and 44.44%, respectively (not significant). During the treatment phase, the CC group had significantly higher levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) serum, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone (T), and estradiol than the placebo group. CC treatment also resulted in greater LH, FSH, and T responses to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). There were no differences between the placebo and CC groups for the sperm penetration assay or semen parameters. The authors conclude that CC is not a useful drug in the treatment of male infertility.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Clomiphene / therapeutic use*
  • Estradiol / blood
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / blood
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
  • Humans
  • Infertility, Male / drug therapy*
  • Luteinizing Hormone / blood
  • Male
  • Semen / analysis
  • Sperm Count
  • Testosterone / blood

Substances

  • Clomiphene
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
  • Testosterone
  • Estradiol
  • Luteinizing Hormone
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone