Current research has found that replacement of hypothalamic or pituitary hormones achieves excellent results in the rare condition of hypothalamic or pituitary deficiency. Other effective treatment approaches are to correct the underlying illness or to stop the use of medication causing the infertility. This approach, which often requires sophisticated treatment of the egg using microsurgery, has become increasingly effective in recent years. It is frequently used due to the lack of clinical evaluation of the infertile male and in some cases when more specific treatments for male infertility are unavailable. This is due to our poor understanding of the mechanisms regulating sperm production in the testis, sperm maturation in the genital tract and the steps required for efficient fertilization.
Many men are able to produce sperm, but are still infertile due to the poor quality of the sperm.
More research is required to elucidate these deficiencies. Endocrinologists are experts in male reproductive hormones and sperm development. An endocrinologist can help determine the cause of the infertility in the male partner, and when possible, provide the necessary treatment to improve the chances of conception. The Endocrine Society is the world's largest and most active organization devoted to the research, study and clinical practice of endocrinology. Over 9,000 scientists, educators, clinicians, practicing MDs, nurses and students, from over 78 countries make up the organization's membership and represent all basic, applied and clinical interests in endocrinology.