The Relationship Between Serum Growth Hormone, Seminal Plasma Growth Hormone, and Sperm Parameters in Patients with Acromegaly in Remission

Objective: The influence of serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and growth hormone (GH) on sperm parameters has been previously described in patients with acromegaly. However, the relationship between local GH/IGF-1 with systemic levels and sperm parameters in patients with acromegaly has not been established. In this study, we investigated the effects of seminal plasma hormone levels on sperm parameters in patients with acromegaly.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 24 patients with acromegaly in remission and 16 men without chronic disease and/or hypogonadism. Seminal plasma GH and IGF-1 were measured. Semen parameters and seminal plasma hormone levels were compared.

Results: The acromegaly group had higher levels of serum GH (0.475 IQR (0.245-0.770) ng/mL) compared to the control group (0.08 IQR (0.03-0.159) ng/mL) (P < .001). Although seminal plasma GH levels were higher in the acromegaly (114 ± 82 pg/mL) than in the control group (61 ± 39 pg/mL) (P=.004), seminal plasma IGF-1 levels were similar (P=.203). Serum GH was positively correlated with seminal plasma GH (r=0.489, P=.001) and negatively correlated with sperm count (r=−0.337, P=.039) and fast-forward motility (r=−0.360, P=.023). There was no correlation between seminal plasma hormone levels and semen parameters (P > .05 for all).

Conclusion: The findings suggested that sperm count may be adversely affected in patients with acromegaly despite an intact hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis and disease control. The seminal plasma hormone levels seemed not to be correlated with semen alterations.

Cite this article as: Cicek E, Sulu C, Mefkure Ozkaya H, et al. The relationship between serum growth hormone, seminal plasma growth hormone, and sperm parameters in patients with acromegaly in remission. Endocrinol Res Pract. Published online November 11, 2024. doi 10.5152/ erp.2024.24525.