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Testosterone causes infirtility???

Hi,

I have a Macroprolactinoma which I was diagnosed with about 1 1/2 years ago.  I had a semen a semen anaylsis performed in Dec 09 which showed I had sperm but the count was lower than norman by a fair bit and my fsh level about 1.8.  The nurse said that this was good enough for IVF treatment.  At this point I was on testosterone (sustanon) injections after coming off Testogel which I had been using on and off for 4 months.

In February 2010 I had Stereotatic Radio Surgery (after not freezing my sperm as my consultant believed it would all be ok).  I was also starting on the new Nabido (testosterone) injection.  I went back for a further sample in June 2010 and there was no sperm at all.  My FSH level was 0.

I discussed this with my consultant and he believed he could get it back and referred me to the fatility clinic.  I presumed as did my partner that I would be given FSH injections to start things moving again and that working with my testosterone injections I would start creating sperm again (my condultant seemed to think this also).

However I have just come back from my fertility clinc appointment and I have been told that testosterone injections will stop me producing sperm and thus lower my FSH level.  I have been told to come off my testosterone injections and see if that then raises my fertility.

Eveything I read on the net seems to state testosterone is needed in fertility not what I am being told that it will remove my fertility.  

Any advise here would be great and I will try and answer any questions if they may give you a clearer view of my situation.

Regards,

Steve
3 Responses
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961574 tn?1520648103
COMMUNITY LEADER
mhv
Unfortunately, I do not have the anwer to the FSH production again.  But, the RE and the Urologist said that coming off testosterone will increase counts.  But, it takes about 70 days to show an increase in counts.  
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Avatar universal
Thank you, my endocrinologist referred me to the fertility clinic and my poor testosterone is caused by my pituitary tumour over producing prolactin and hence lowering other hormones.

So I take it coming off the testosterone will increase my sperm count and hopefully start it back up again?  So one would assume that this in turn will kick start my FSH production again?
Helpful - 0
961574 tn?1520648103
COMMUNITY LEADER
mhv
This is what I have learned.  The urologist and the RE always debate on this.  Testostrone lowers your sperm count.  Your body quits producing it naturally and hense your sperm count goes down.  My DH's count started out at 28mil (although that is still low) after approx 4 years on Testosterone, his count has went down to approx 7mil.  We are doing icsi with IVF to avoid this issue.  The RE wants him to stop the testosterone to get counts up (which he has since been off since April), but urologist says that since they are only injecting x amount of eggs, there is no need to stop.  Sooo, Yes Testosterone lowers sperm counts!  but it also increases energy and sex drive.   Another idea is to see an endocrinologist  (to see what is causing the low testosterone in the first place.  that is what I have been trying to get my DH to do, but it has been unsuccessful.  
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