Big enough for an aromatase inhibitor? How adiposity affects male fertility

Semin Reprod Med. 2013 Jul;31(4):251-7. doi: 10.1055/s-0033-1345272. Epub 2013 Jun 17.

Abstract

Obesity is a pandemic and is associated with multiple medical problems including subfertility. Male obesity has been associated with altered semen parameters and reproductive hormonal levels, including a reduced testosterone:estradiol (T:E₂) ratio. Treatment methods employed for obesity-related male subfertility include gonadotropin administration, weight loss, and aromatase inhibitors. Letrozole is a highly effective nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor that has been used to treat male subfertility in several case series with promising results. Adequately designed randomized controlled studies are needed to produce evidence-based data on the role of aromatase inhibitors in male subfertility management and evaluate the side-effect profile.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adiposity*
  • Aromatase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Evidence-Based Medicine*
  • Humans
  • Infertility, Male / complications
  • Infertility, Male / drug therapy*
  • Infertility, Male / etiology
  • Infertility, Male / physiopathology
  • Letrozole
  • Male
  • Nitriles / therapeutic use
  • Obesity / physiopathology*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Triazoles / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Aromatase Inhibitors
  • Nitriles
  • Triazoles
  • Letrozole