The use of sulphasalazine, the oldest of these, has become less popular because of side effects including nausea, skin rashes, and reversible oligospermia.
Doses of arginine used in clinical research have varied considerably, from as little as 500 mg/day for oligospermia to as much as 30 g/day for cancer, preeclampsia, and premature uterine contractions.
Side effects include bone marrow toxicity, hepatitis, reversible oligospermia, yellow discoloration of urine and of soft contact lenses, nausea, headache, and abdominal discomfort.
Similar effects on oligospermia and conception rates have been reported in other preliminary trials.
The most common male infertility factors include: azoospermia (no sperm cells are produced) and oligospermia (few sperm cells are produced).
In patients with azoospermia or severe oligospermia, the karyotype should be determined because of the increased incidence of karyotypic abnormalities in this population.
Men with nonobstructive azoospermia and severe ogliospermia (fewer than 5 to 10 million sperm per ml) should be informed of the potential genetic abnormalities associated with azoospermia or severe oligospermia.