Transient azoospermia following rosuvastatin medication for hypercholesterolemia

Abstract

The authors report a case of transient azoospermia following hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) inhibitor rosuvastatin medication for hypercholesterolemia. While a primary infertile couple with oligoasthenospermia was preparing for an in vitro fertilization program, the male partner had been diagnosed with hypercholesterolemia in a medical check-up and prescribed fourweek oral administration of rosuvastatin. No motile spermatozoa were found in the ejaculated semen and urine on the day of follicular aspiration. Azoospermia was confirmed by re-examination in weeks 3 and 7. Spermatozoa appeared in the ejaculated semen in two weeks of drug withdrawal. In week 16, the sperm count and motility increased to the level where intracytoplasmic sperm injection was available.