FERTILITY IN PARAPLEGIC MALES*: A PRELIMINARY REPORT OF ENDOCRINE STUDIES

Abstract

INTRODUCTION THE natural desire of patients with spinal cord injuries to have children motivated this study on 34 paraplegic patients with various levels of spinal cord injury. Reproduction among male patients with a spinal cord injury is rare, although not impossible. Recently 2 such cases were reported (1), to which we add 8 of our own, only 1 of which is included in this study. Studies of the sex behavior of paraplegic patients reveal that ejaculations are relatively rare as compared with erections (2, 3, 4), and that the percentage of motile sperm is low in the massaged prostatic contents. PLAN OF INVERSTIGATION AND METHODS This investigation was planned to obtain data, relevant to the endocrine, genital and neurophysiologic status of the patients. Biopsy specimens were obtained from both testes of all patients reported here. Intravenous sodium pentothal was used for anesthesia in the patients with sensitive gonads.