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How Does Human Growth Hormone Affect Sperm Motility And Shape?

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Posted on Mon, 5 Jan 2015
Question: Does HGH affect Sperm Motility and Shape?

doctor
Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Human growth hormone restores sperm motility and shape in subfertility

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.

I have read through your query in detail.
There has been research studies on male perm behavior and growth hormone. As per the research, a study on nine oligozoospermic and nine asthenozoospermic men treated with GH for 12 weeks reported increased sperm motility in both groups, and three pregnancies were reported in asthenozoospermia, but not in oligozoospermia.

Asthenozoospermia is the medical term for reduced sperm motility. Oligozoospermia is low sperm count.

Also, after doing a series of laboratory experiments on rats and clinical trials on humans it has been seen that growth hormone restores sperm concentration, morphology, and motility in GH deficient rats as well as men.

Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.

Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Vivek Chail (1 hour later)
So if I'm reading this correctly HGH more likely helps with motility and does not affect the shape of the sperm at all?

The answer you gave me is almost exactly like the article I pulled up myself online.

So to make it more clear does HGH affect the shape of the sperm head?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (31 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
HGH affects both motility and morphology (shape), other factors also there

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.

I appreciate your online search on the topic.
Such studies are very few in number and most of the medical review literature is shared on most online domains.

As HGH affects both morphology and motility, morphology refers to the shape of the sperm and this includes the head region. However experiments on boars have revealed the function of another growth substance called insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF-II, deficiency of which can alter the shape of spermatozoa heads.

The most important factor affecting shape of head is the DNA make up of the sperm. This binds together the cell proteins and maintains the shape of the head.

Finally, speaking about the shape of head and HGH, well there might be subtle changes that can be brought about in the shape of the head of sperms as seen in rats. Rats are the closest experimental model when doing research studies on human fertility. Specific studies in humans are limited due to ethical concerns on the issue.

Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Vivek Chail (31 minutes later)
Ok so HGH "restores" the motility and shape if I read this correctly. For my personal case I take HGH prescribed by a doctor and my sperm has a 17% motility rate and 72% of them have to big of a head and 23% have to small of a head.

So is the HGH hurting my sperm?

This will be my last question on this topic I hope. Thanks for your reply.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
HGH is not hurting the sperm, it is trying to correct motility, morphology

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.

There is an internationally followed criteria formulated by World Health Organization on normal semen analysis.

In this criteria the following are considered normal for motility and morphology
(i) Motility: > or =40%
(ii) Morphology: > or =15% normal oval sperm heads

In your case, the motility and morphology are sub normal. This can be corrected to a certain extent by HGH. The HGH are trying to normalize your sperm motility and morphology.

The HGH is not hurting the sperm.

Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Vivek Chail

Radiologist

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 6874 Questions

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How Does Human Growth Hormone Affect Sperm Motility And Shape?

Brief Answer: Human growth hormone restores sperm motility and shape in subfertility Detailed Answer: Hi XXXXXXX, Thanks for writing in to us. I have read through your query in detail. There has been research studies on male perm behavior and growth hormone. As per the research, a study on nine oligozoospermic and nine asthenozoospermic men treated with GH for 12 weeks reported increased sperm motility in both groups, and three pregnancies were reported in asthenozoospermia, but not in oligozoospermia. Asthenozoospermia is the medical term for reduced sperm motility. Oligozoospermia is low sperm count. Also, after doing a series of laboratory experiments on rats and clinical trials on humans it has been seen that growth hormone restores sperm concentration, morphology, and motility in GH deficient rats as well as men. Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements. Hope your query is answered. Do write back if you have any doubts. Regards, Dr.Vivek