Antioxidants for male infertility: therapeutic scheme and indications. A retrospective single-center real-life study

BACKGROUND: This single-center real-life study was conducted to evaluate the most effective combination of nutra-ceuticals and the most appropriate indications for the treatment of male infertile patients. METHODS: Infertile patients aged 20-55 years were treated with a combination of antioxidants (Androlen (R); Enfarma, Misterbianco, Catania, Italy) (group A), with Androlen (R) (Enfarma) and a mixture of fibrinolytic molecules (Lenidase (R), Enfarma) (group B), or Androlen (R) (Enfarma) and other molecules different from those used for the patients of the group B (group C). Patients were also subdivided according to the presence of varicocele, mild testicular hypotrophy, idiopathic infertility, and chronic male accessory gland infection. RESULTS: Forty-three patients were enrolled. In the overall analysis, only progressive motility significantly improved after therapy. Subgroup analysis showed a significant increase in progressive motility, total motile sperm count (TMSC), and in the percentage of alive spermatozoa after treatment in the group A. Progressive motility improved significantly in patients with varicocele, while the TMSC in patients with varicocele and those with idiopathic infertility. The percentage of alive spermatozoa increased in patients with testicular hypotrophy. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with antioxidants increased progressive sperm motility, especially in patients with varico-cele or idiopathic infertility.