Sensitivity and specificity of serum FSH and testis size in predicting the existence of spermatogenesis in azoospermic infertile men

Abstract

The objective of research was to determine the sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of serum follicle stimulating hormone and testis size in predicting spermatogenesis in infertile men with azoospermia. In a prospective study, azoospermic men were studied. Serum follicle stimulating hormone measurement and scrotal sac ultrasonography were performed. Bilateral testis biopsy was performed for all of these patients. The sensitivity and specificity of follicle stimulating hormone and testis size were determined to predict the existence of different cellular steps of spermatogenesis. Of eighty infertile men who recruited into the study, 53 patients did not represent any different cellular steps of spermatogenesis, while 27 of them had various steps of such differentiation. Among the 53 patients without cellular steps of spermatogenesis in the biopsy, 41 were predicted to be azoospermic based on their serum follicle stimulating hormone levels (77.3% sensitivity), and of 27 patients with various cellular steps of spermatogenesis in the biopsy, 23 were predicted to have spermatozoa according to the follicle stimulating hormone level (85.2%) specificity. It is suggested that combination of these two indicators can substitute the invasive testis biopsy for predicting the existence of spermatozoa in infertile men with azoospermia.