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The effect of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on partner pregnancy rate in infertile men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia: an open-label prospective study

  • Urology - Original Paper
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Abstract

Objective

It has been shown that coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation in men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) results in improved semen parameters. In present study, we evaluated the effects of coenzyme CoQ10 supplementation on semen parameters and pregnancy rates in infertile men with idiopathic OAT.

Patients and methods

Two hundred and eighty-seven infertile men with idiopathic OAT were recruited in this study. These patients were treated with CoQ10 300 mg orally twice daily for 12 months. Two semen analyses and determination of resting levels of sex hormones were done in all participants. Patients were followed up for another 12 months after CoQ10 discontinuation.

Results

Mean sperm concentration, sperm progressive motility, and sperm with normal morphology improved significantly after 12-month CoQ10 therapy by 113.7, 104.8, and 78.9%, respectively (all Ps < 0.05). The overall pregnancy rate was 34.1% within a mean of 8.4 ± 4.7 months.

Conclusions

CoQ10 supplementation improves semen quality with beneficial effect on pregnancy rate.

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Abbreviations

OAT:

Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia

CoQ10 :

Coenzyme Q10

LH:

Luteinizing hormone (LH)

FSH:

Follicle-stimulating hormone

PRL:

Prolactin

TSH:

Thyroid-stimulating hormone

WHO:

World Health Organization

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

NBT:

Nitroblue tetrazolium

hCG:

Human chorionic gonadotropin

TEAEs:

Treatment emergent adverse events

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to express their thanks to the couples for their cooperation during the entire period of the study. We thank Shiva Safarinejad, for providing technical help and secretariat for the study, and Saba Safarinejad, for her precious help in data retrieval. There was no funding.

Conflict of interest

I have no conflict of interest whether of a financial or other nature.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Center for Urological Disease Diagnosis, Private Clinic Specialized in Urological and Andrological Genetics, P.O. Box 19395-1849, Tehran, Iran

    Mohammad Reza Safarinejad

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  1. Mohammad Reza Safarinejad
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Correspondence to Mohammad Reza Safarinejad.

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Safarinejad, M.R. The effect of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on partner pregnancy rate in infertile men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia: an open-label prospective study. Int Urol Nephrol 44, 689–700 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-011-0081-0

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