Assessment of level of FSH and Inhibin-B in evaluation of primary male infertility with reference to spermiogram

Infertility, characterized by the failure to conceive after a year of regular unprotected sexual intercourse, affects a significant proportion of couples. Male factors contribute to approximately 40-50% of infertility cases, with around 2% of men exhibiting suboptimal sperm parameters. Semen analysis serves as the primary diagnostic tool for male infertility. Elevated levels of serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) often indicate severe impairment of spermatogenesis. In contrast, inhibin B concentrations are closely associated with sperm concentration and testicular volume, making it a valuable marker for assessing spermatogenesis. This prospective study aimed to investigate the relationship between semen parameters and the levels of serum FSH and inhibin B. The study included 35 cases of male infertility, and their semen samples were subjected to microscopy and comprehensive analysis. Among the cases, 14.3% exhibited a sperm count of =5 million/ml, with a mean serum FSH level of (46.45 \(pm\) 2.68) and a mean serum inhibin B level of (4.34 \(pm\) 2.34). The results revealed a significant negative correlation between inhibin B levels and FSH concentrations (r = 0.919, p < 0.0001). Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between sperm concentrations and inhibin B (r = 0.945, p < 0.0001), while a negative correlation existed between sperm concentrations and FSH levels (r = -0.980, p < 0.0001). These findings suggest that the degree of male infertility is directly proportional to elevated FSH levels and inversely proportional to serum inhibin B levels. Thus, serum inhibin B emerges as a more sensitive parameter for assessing male infertility.