Progressive alcohol-induced sperm alterations leading to spermatogenic arrest, which was reversed after alcohol withdrawal
Received 16 July 2009; received in revised form 4 August 2009; accepted 13 November 2009. published online 01 February 2010.
Abstract
This is a report of a 6-year follow-up of a male patient’s semen parameters during heavy chronic alcohol intoxication and after withdrawal. A slowly progressive negative impact of alcohol could be observed: isolated moderate teratozoospermia was firstly noted followed by oligoasthenoteratospermia. Then a severe worsening resulted in cryptozoospermia and ultimately in azoospermia. At this moment, the histological analysis of a testicular biopsy revealed a maturation arrest of the germinal cells at the pachytene stage with no mature sperm cells. Alcohol withdrawal was then obtained, allowing a very fast and drastic improvement of semen characteristics; strictly normal semen parameters were observed after no more than 3months. Taking into consideration these data, patients should be questioned about their alcohol intake before assisted reproductive technology and should be informed about this adverse effect. Moreover, this case report emphasizes how quickly benefits can be obtained after withdrawal, even in the case of heavy chronic alcohol intake.
Declaration: The authors report no financial or commercial conflicts of interest.
aService d’Histologie et Biologie de la Reproduction, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris (APHP)–Hôpital Tenon, Paris, France
bER9, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris VI), Paris, France
cService d’Histologie-Embryologie-Cytogénétique-Biologie de la Reproduction-CECOS, APHP–Hôpital Jean Verdier, Bondy, France
dService de Gynécologie-Obstétrique et Médecine de la Reproduction, APHP–Hôpital Tenon, Paris, France
Corresponding author.
Dr Nathalie Sermondade completed her studies in medicine at the Paris VI University in 2008. During her 4-year residency in medical biology, she specialized in reproductive biology, especially assisted reproductive technologies, and her MD was supervised by Dr. Jacqueline Mandelbaum in Tenon Hospital, Paris. She also obtained a Master’s degree in Science in Paris V University. She is currently undertaking a fellowship at Jean Verdier Hospital (Bondy, France) and is working on her PhD in Paris XIII University investigating the impact of nutrition on fertility.
ABSTRACT
Dr Nathalie Sermondade completed her studies in medicine at the Paris VI University in 2008. During her 4-year residency in medical biology, she specialized in reproductive biology, especially assisted reproductive technologies, and her MD was supervised by Dr. Jacqueline Mandelbaum in Tenon Hospital, Paris. She also obtained a Master’s degree in Science in Paris V University. She is currently undertaking a fellowship at Jean Verdier Hospital (Bondy, France) and is working on her PhD in Paris XIII University investigating the impact of nutrition on fertility.