Improvement of spermatogenesis by hCG and hMG treatment in pubertal boys with history of orchiopexy at early childhood.

Twelve early-pubertal boys (12-3/12 to 14-11/12 years of age) who had received orchiopexy for bilateral cryptorchidism at 3-1/12 to 5-9/12 years of age were treated with long-term administration of hCG and hMG, 1000 IU and 150 IU, respectively, weekly during puberty. The restoration of spermatogenesis by the treatment was evaluated by measuring the mean sperm count in the seminal fluid ejaculated at late-pubertal age or after completion of puberty (16-6/12 to 18-1/12 years of age). Of the 12 patients treated with hCG and hMG, 5 showed moderate oligozoospermia (5-40 million sperm/ml), 2 showed severe oligozoospermia (less than 5 million sperm/ml), and 5 were azoospermic. Of another 11 such patients who were not treated with hCG and hMG during pubertal age, 9 patients were azoospermic and only 2 showed severe oligozoospermia. The rate of motile sperm assessed from all semen showed asthenozoospermia (20-61%). These findings suggest that gonadotropins administered during puberty may have some effects on restoration of spermatogenesis in patients who had orchiopexy for bilateral cryptorchidism in early childhood.