Low-serum antimüllerian hormone is linked with poor semen quality in infertile men screened for participation in a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

ObjectiveStudies investigating associations between serum anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) and semen quality in infertile men have shown conflicting results. Here, we investigated possible associations between serum AMH and semen quality in infertile men. DesignInfertile men were included during screening for participation in FITMI, a double-blinded, placebo-controlled 1:1, single-center randomized clinical trial. SubjectsAt the screening visit, 400 participants produced a semen sample and had their serum analyzed for AMH. Main Outcome MeasuresSerum AMH and semen quality ResultsAll men were stratified according to serum AMH in quartiles (Q1-Q4). Men in the lowest quartile had a lower sperm concentration (million/mL) (Q1: 8.0 vs. Q2: 10.4 vs. Q3: 11.0 vs. Q4: 13.0; p=0.006), total sperm count (million) (Q1: 29.1 vs. Q2: 38.2 vs. Q3: 44.4 vs. Q4: 55.7; p=0.022), sperm motility (%) (Q1: 41 vs. Q2: 57 vs. Q3: 50 vs. Q4: 53; p=0.042), and progressive sperm motility (%) (Q1: 31 vs. Q2: 44 vs. Q3: 35 vs. Q4: 40; p=0.031) compared with the other quartiles. Moreover, men with a sperm concentration < 2 million/mL had a lower serum AMH compared with men having 2-16 million/mL and > 16 million/mL (31 pmol/L vs. 38 pmol/L vs. 43 pmol/L, respectively; p=0.015). In accordance, men with sperm motility < 20% had a lower serum AMH compared with men with sperm motility 20-42%, and > 42% (31 pmol/L vs. 43 pmol/L. vs. 39 pmol/L, respectively; p=0.008). ConclusionThis study shows that low serum AMH is associated with poor semen quality in infertile men, which implies that serum AMH may have clinical value during the evaluation of male infertility.