HORMONAL EFFECTS OF TAMOXIFEN IN OLIGOSPERMIC MEN

Abstract

SUMMARY The hormonal effects of tamoxifen (10 mg daily for 6 months) have been studied in nine men with oligospermia. Basal concentrations of serum LH (1·7 ± 0·1 (s.e.m.) i.u./l) increased to a maximum of 4·1 ± 1·3 i.u./l (P < 0·001) after 6 months, and FSH rose from 4·9 ± 1·0 to a maximum of 7·7 ± 1·3 i.u./l after 4 months of treatment (P < 0·01). The response to luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LH-RH) was studied at monthly intervals. Sums of increments of serum LH increased from 35 ± 4 to 92 ± 17 i.u./l at 4 months (P < 0·001) and of FSH from 14 ± 3·4 to 23 ± 3·5 i.u./l at 4 months (P < 0·01). Basal serum androgens rose from 25 ± 2·7 to 38 ± 2·4 nmol/l after 4 months of treatment (P < 0·05), and serum oestradiol-17β increased from 185 ± 25 to 631 ± 90 pmol/l by 6 months (P < 0·001). No significant changes occurred in sperm counts. Five normal men acted as controls: they were given tamoxifen for 1 week. No significant changes were observed in serum LH, FSH or release of these hormones following administration of LH-RH. Serum androgens and oestrogens however, increased significantly by day 4 of treatment (P < 0·05).