Fertility, Sexuality and Testicular Adrenal Rest Tumors in Adult Males with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia.

• Objective: Fertility in males with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is reported from normal to severely impaired. We therefore investigated fertility/fecundity, social/sexual situation, and pituitary- gonadal function in CAH males.Subjects and methods: The patient cohort comprised 30 males with 21-hydroxylase deficiency, 19-67 yr. Their fertility was compared with age-matched national population data. For the evaluation of social/sexual factors and hormone status, age-matched controls were recruited (n=32). Subgroups of different ages (<30 years and older) and CYP21A2 genotypes: null (severe salt wasting), I2splice (milder salt wasting), and I172N (simple virilizing) were also studied. Patients underwent testicular ultrasound examination (n=21), and semen analysis (n=14).Results: Fertility was impaired in CAH males compared to national data (0.9±1.3 vs. 1.8±0.5 children/father, P<0.001). There were no major differences in social and sexual factors between patients and controls apart from more fecundity problems, particularly in the I172N group. The patients had lower testosterone/estradiol ratio and inhibin B, and higher FSH. The semen samples were pathological in 43% (6/14) of patients and sperm concentration correlated with inhibin B and FSH. Testicular adrenal rest tumours (TARTs) were found in 86% (18/21). Functional testicular volume correlated positively with the testosterone/estradiol ratio, sperm concentration and inhibin B. Patients with pathological semen had increased fat mass and indications of increased cardiometabolic risk.Conclusions: Fertility/fecundity was impaired in CAH males. The frequent occurrence of TARTs resulting in testicular insufficiency appears to be the major cause, but other factors such as elevated fat mass may contribute to a low semen quality.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Reproduktionsmedicin och gynekologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine (hsv//eng)

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