Acute effect of microdissection testicular sperm extraction on blood total testosterone and luteinising hormone levels

Testicular sperm extraction is a common surgical procedure to retrieve spermatozoa from men with azoospermia which may affect the tissue and cause hypogonadism (Human Reproduction Update, 24 , 2018, 442). We aimed to evaluate the acute effect of micro-TESE on blood total testosterone (TT) and luteinising hormone (LH) levels. Between April 2018 and September 2019, 60 selected NOA (i.e. with normal TT and LH) patients were included in the study. After procedure, blood samples were collected to evaluate the levels of TT and LH at 1st and 24th hour and first week. Values were compared. In addition, patients were divided into two groups according to their body mass index. Mean age of patients was 27.37 ± 4.52 years, and mean of body mass index was 24.49 ± 3.78 kg/m². Mean TT levels at the 1st hour, 24th hour and the 1st week were 3.81, 3.50 and 3.05 ng/ml respectively. Mean LH levels at the 1st hour, 24th hour and the 1st week were 5.03, 5.15 and 5.46 IU/L respectively. Statistically significant differences between pre- and post-operative 24th hour and 1st week values were detected (p = .001, p < .001 respectively). No statistical differences were found between two BMI's groups. TT decreased in acute period after the procedure, whereas the increase of LH levels was observed after 24th hour.