Over 13 million men are diagnosed with hypogonadism (low testosterone) in the United States annually. A previously published study, the Hypogonadism in Men trial, revealed that 39% of men are hypogonadal by the age of 45 and it is not uncommon to see men in much younger ages with hypogonadism these days. This means a fair number of men who are not done having children are being diagnosed with hypogonadism. It is crucial for men who want to maintain fertility potential to avoid traditional testosterone replacements such as gels, injections, patches, or pellets; as they suppress sperm production. A better option for the treatment of hypogonadism in a manner that is not detrimental to a man’s fertility is with a medication called clomiphene citrate, which increases testosterone production in a testicular stimulating manner. Dr. Parviz Kavoussi, an expert in male reproductive health, has co-authored a scientific review article on medical treatment for hypogonadism in a sperm preserving manner. Dr. Kavoussi states, “Unfortunately, week in and week out I see couples trying to get pregnant who find the male partner has a sperm count of zero or nearly zero, and we find the first medication on his list is a form of testosterone replacement. There are better options to treat men with hypogonadism in a fertility preserving manner, and as medical providers, it is our responsibility to help guide patients on these options.”
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