Novel insights on testicular volume and testosterone replacement therapy in Klinefelter patients undergoing testicular sperm extraction. A retrospective clinical study

To investigate whether sperm recovery is related to clinical features, hormone parameters and testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in patients with Klinefelter syndrome (KS).

This study provides three interesting insights: (i) the probability to retrieve sperm is not related to testicular volume; (ii) TRT does not affect sperm retrieval rate (SRR); and (iii) reduced levels of LH and FSH represent a negative predictor of sperm retrieval in patients with TRT.

Classical KS shows a karyotype with one extra X chromosome in all of somatic cells and clinical manifestations characterized by hypergonadotropic hypogonadism and infertility.

We performed a retrospective cohort study. Data from 111 consecutive KS azoospermic patients undergoing testicular sperm extraction (TESE) were collected from 2005 to 2016.

Data on anthropometric parameters, reproductive hormones and testicular volumes were collected. SRR was related to clinical characteristics and compared between TRT and untreated patients.

A total of 38 patients (34.2%) had successful sperm recovery. The comparison of clinical characteristics did not differ between patients with and without sperm recovery. Sperm retrieval was successful also in subjects with smaller testes. The comparison of SRR in patients with or without TRT was not different (33.3% vs 34.6%). In TRT group, LH and FSH levels were significantly lower in subjects with no sperm retrieval (P values, respectively, <.05 and <.001).

Well-designed controlled studies are necessary to confirm these data aimed to set the best therapeutic approach for fertility management in hypogonadal patients with nonmosaic KS.

Age at TESE, anthropometric measures, testis volume, sex hormones levels and semen parameters are not predictive parameters of SRR. Among TRT patients, reduced gonadotropin is related to failure in sperm retrieval.