National Journal of Andrology 2004;10(9):671-675

Initial observation on L-carnitine for asthenospermia with epididymal knob.

Xuejun SHANG 1 ; Yufeng HUANG ; Ke LI ; Wei LI ; Yichao SHI ; Guanghui LIU ; Jusheng HONG

Affiliations

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Country

China

Language

Chinese

Abstract

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of L-carnitine on asthenospermia with epididymal knob.

METHODSThirty-five patients aged 25-39 years with asthenospermia with epididymal knob were received at our clinic of andrology from May 2003 to July 2004, and given oral L-carnitine 2 g/d for 3 months. The sperm parameters of the patients were analyzed by computer-assisted sperm analysis system before and after L-carnitine treatment.

RESULTSOf the 32 patients who accomplished the 3-month L-carnitine therapy, only 4 remained unimproved in sperm parameters, while the other 28 were significantly improved in sperm concentration, forward sperm motility, total sperm motility, straight line velocity, curvilinear velocity and average path velocity. Four of the patients wives were pregnant and one patient fathered a child.

CONCLUSIONOral L-carnitine therapy is efficacious for asthenospermia with epididymal knob.