Further Studies on the Effects of Pentoxifylline on Sperm Count and Sperm Motility in Patients with Idiopathic Oligo-Asthenozoospermia

Abstract

To further investigate the effectiveness of pentoxifylline (Trental) treatment in male infertility, we studied 22 young men (mean age 28.4 years) with "idiopathic" oligo-asthenozoospermia treated for 6 months with the drug (1200 mg daily orally). Sperm concentration and sperm motility were determined before therapy, as well as after 3 and 6 months of pentoxifylline administration. Moreover, fructose concentrations in seminal fluid and sperm ATP levels were assayed before and at the end of the treatment in five semen samples. Pentoxifylline therapy significantly increased both sperm concentration and sperm motility. Sperm concentration showed a 1.5-fold increase (p < 0.01) at the 3rd months of therapy, and a 2.0-fold increase (p < 0.001) at the 6th month, whereas sperm motility increased by 1.8-fold (p < 0.001) and by 2.8-fold (p < 0.001) respectively. At the end of the treatment, fructose concentrations in seminal fluid were significantly higher (p < 0.001) than pretreatment values; in contrast, sperm ATP level showed a significant (p < 0.05) fall. These results suggest that pentoxifylline, probably acting on the cAMP metabolism, may be an useful drug in the treatment of idiopathic oligo-asthenozoospermia.