Androgen-Binding Components of Human Semen

Seminal plasma androgen/oestrogen balance in infertile men

The hypothesis that the balance between oestrogen and androgen in seminal plasma is important for normal fertility was investigated. We determined the concentrations of oestradiol and testosterone in blood and seminal plasma from 62 infertile men and 32 normozoospermic men. Infertile men were classified according to semen analysis (concentration, motility and morphology): asthenozoospermia, oligozoospermia and oligoteratoasthenozoospermia. Serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were determined in all participants. For all subjects, mean testosterone levels were lower and mean oestradiol were higher in seminal plasma than in blood. Seminal plasma testosterone levels were lower in the infertile groups vs. control men ( p < 0.0002). Oligpzoospermic and oligoteratoasthenozoospermic men had significantly higher seminal plasma oestradiol levels compared with controls ( p < 0.03). The three infertile groups had significantly lower seminal plasma testosterone/oestradiol ratio than control men ( p < 0.001). Sperm analysis data (concentration, motility and morphology) significantly correlated with seminal plasma testosterone/oestradiol ratio. The findings of elevated seminal plasma oestradiol, decreased testosterone and testosterone/oestradiol ratio in infertile men, and the significant correlation between hormone levels and sperm analysis data suggest that the local balance between androgen and oestrogen is important for spermatogenesis.

The intravaginal absorption of male generated hormones and their possible effect on female behaviour

In this paper I hypothesize that a woman through her vagina absorbs sufficient quantities of the prostaglandins from her partner's semen, to affect her mood. The vagina appears to have an active transport mechanism which readily absorbs the hormones found in seminal plasma. The seminal secretions include estrogens, F.S.H., LH, testosterone, and at least 13 prostaglandins. Prostaglandins have a modulating effect on neurotransmitters. Evening Primrose Oil (E.P.O., Efamol) may improve depressed mood by facilitating the production of prostaglandins. I have described a depressed, child abusing mother who was possibly getting insufficient exogenous prostaglandins post-partum to maintain her pre-partum mood state because she was avoiding intercourse with her husband. When her mood improved on E.P.O., she began enjoying her husband and her child. If these observations and deductions are correct, regular amounts of seminal plasma may be important in maintaining a woman's affective health and E.P.O. may be useful in treating depressed abusing mothers.