Does growth hormone deficiency cause infertility?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am asking this query on behalf of a male patient who is 43 years old. He recently got married and has no kids. He is a non-smoker and non-alcoholic. He weighs 158 lbs and is 5.1 feet tall. He has no neurological manifestations. He had a growth hormone deficiency at age six and received medical treatment (growth hormone injections twice weekly for seven months), then it was stopped. He and his wife asking are looking for a trial for conception. He had an endocrinology consultation 2.5 years back, and he was diagnosed with anterior pituitary hypofunction without any pituitary mass with bilat varicocele. The lab results for his wife are all within the normal range.

Please help, doctor.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I just read your query, and I can understand your concern.

As long as his FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) and testosterone levels are normal, there is no cause for concern. Leutinizing hormone is necessary for female ovulation, and for males, the testosterone levels are essential, so he is good to go. So again, there is no cause for concern. I could not find his TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) levels anywhere in the report to confirm his pituitary hypofunction.

Thank you.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I checked your semen analysis, and it only says no infection in semen. Nowhere is it mentioned that you have no sperms. This test was for semen, suggests whether the infection is present or not, and does not mention sperm count. High estradiol hormone can be due to various dietary factors and stress, which can cause low sperm count. However, it can be treated by the following -

1. Avoid environmental estrogens, such as parabens, in personal care products.

2. Lose weight (body fat).

3. Reduce alcohol intake.

4. Adding cruciferous vegetables (like broccoli) to your diet will help.

As for the rest of the anterior pituitary hormones, they are normal, so that rules out anterior pituitary hypofunction.

Thank you.