Zinc sulfate therapy for infertile male with or without varicocelectomy

Abstract

One hundred one men were treated for infertility with 440 mg of zinc sulfate daily for sixty days to two years. All subjects demonstrated low seminal plasma zinc concentrations prior to treatment. Patients were divided into two groups: group [Zn], 65 subjects who underwent zinc therapy alone and group (Var/Zn], 36 subjects who received zinc sulfate therapy after varicocelectomy. In both groups seminal zinc levels were significantly higher (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively) two months after the initiation of zinc therapy. There were no significant changes in sperm count or motility for the [Zn] patients. However, group (Var/Zn] showed a significant increase (P < 0.05) of sperm motility at two months and twelve months after starting zinc sulfate therapy. We separated the [VarlZn] patients into two sub-divisions: those who impregnated their wives after therapy, and those who remained infertile despite treatment. Only those patients who impregnated their wives showed a significant ( P < 0.05) increase in sperm motility two months after the initiation of zinc therapy. Those patients of the [Var/Zn] group who remained infertile despite treatment showed a significant increase ( P < 0.05) in sperm motility after twelve months of therapy. Of the [Zn] patients 27.7 per cent (18) successfully impregnated their wives, while the [Var/Zn] patients exhibited pregnancy rate of 50 per cent (18 patients These data indicate that zinc sulfate therapy for patients with low seminal zinc concentrations may be an effective treatment for infertile patients especially after varicocelectomy.