Treatment of Oligozoospermic Patients with a Formulation of Plant Origin (Speman)

Abstract

Background: Assessment of sperm concentration as a component of semen analysis is one of the most important steps in the evaluation of male in infertile couples so that Oligozoospermia is a decrease in the numbers & density of spermatozoa produced by testes (˂ 20 mill/ml).  Speman is formulation of plant origin with no side effects and has been tried for oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, enlarged prostate and azoospermia

Objective: To assess the effect of speman on

1-Pituitary –gonadal hormones   2-On the certain sperm parameters

Patient and Methods: A prospective study was conducted on forty oligozoospermic patients attended the High Institute of Infertility Diagnosis and Assisted Reproductive Technologies/Al-Nahrain University for period between first September 2011 to September 2012 , the mean age 35 years and with duration of infertility ranged between 1.5—12 years.

     The patients were considered oligozoospermic if the sperm concentration was less than 20 million/ml according to WHO 1999 criteria  . Speman drug was administered at a dose of 2 tablets, three time daily for three months. Semen analysis , particularly certain sperm parameter( sperm density , motility and morphology) and Hormonal assay of serum levels of testosterone , Follicles stimulating and Luteinizing hormones was conducted before and after treatment .

Results: The results showed there was a highly significant (p˂0.001) which increase in the means of sperm density (19.90 million\ml) it was observed after 3months of Speman treatment.  Regarding the sperm motility particularly grade-A was showed a significant(˂0.05) improvement (31.87%) after treatment, and grade-A+B were improved ( 50.27%) after treatment. The morphology of sperm was significantly (˂0.05) reduced   (31.50% )after treatment . The mean serum level of testosterone and Luteinizing hormone were showed a significant (˂0.05)  increased (6.24 ng\ml) and ( 3.98μIU/ml) after treatment respectively.

     Regarding its effect on follicle stimulating hormone were about 22.5% of cases shows high serum level of FSH so that the speman , significantly (˂0.05) reduced   follicle stimulating hormone (5.69 μIU/ml) after treatment i.e. decreasing serum level by negative feedback mechanism on hypo-thalamic-pituitary-testicular axis due to increase serum level of LH which in turn lead to increase testosterone that causes decreased serum level of FSH.

Conclusion: speman may improve the sperm  density , motility and morphology due to improvement of testicular function and male accessory genital gland by influencing of testosterone hormone which caused the serum level of FSH to be  normal through feedback mechansim and increasing  serum level of LH.