Assessment of Fertility Indicators in Beta Thalassemic Males in Iran

Introduction: The causes of male infertility in general population are multiple while in β-thalassemia are classically considered to be the result of iron deposition in the endocrine glands. Adult male patients with β-thalassemia, on frequent blood transfusions, are predisposed to develop acquired hypogonadism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pubertal development and function of the pituitary-testicular axis in adolescent males with Beta-thalassemia major and intermedia.

Materials and Method: In this prospective study we evaluated testicular volume, semen parameters and serum FSH, LH, and Testosterone concentrations in 62 young male patients with major and intermedia thalassemia, aged 18–41 years, at the Teaching Hospital in Tehran, Iran.

Results: At the time of the study their serum ferritin levels ranged from 182 to 11053 ng/mL (mean 2067 ng/mL). The mean volume of patients’ ejaculate was 2.3 cc. The mean concentration of sperm was 61.04 million per milliliter. The mean size of right testis was 11.4 cc and the mean size of left testis was 11.7 cc. Hypogonadism and hypothyroidism were seen in 22.6% and 17.7% of patients, respectively. The mean level of FSH was 3.7 mIU/ml, LH was 4.6 mIU/ml, and Testosterone was 4.8 ng/dl. The mean level of serum ferritin was 2067 ng/dl.

Conclusion: This study suggests that in thalassemic men, concentrations of serum Testosterone, LH, FSH has significant correlation with sperm parameters and testicular volume.