Objective: To evaluate the effects of tamoxifen treatment on sperm density, motility, vitality, and morphology.
Design: Placebo-controlled, randomized study.
Setting: Outpatient department.
Interventions: Patients were assigned to two comparable groups: group A (n = 122) was treated with 10 mg tamoxifen twice daily for a period of 3 months and group B (n = 117) was given placebo for the same period of time, following a previously randomized design.
Main outcome measures: In every patient sperm density, motility, viability, and morphology were evaluated 3 months after cessation of treatment.
Results: Mean sperm density in group A improved significantly with a more pronounced improvement in severe oligozoospermic men. Sperm density was found significantly improved compared with group B. Dead spermatozoa in group A significantly decreased after tamoxifen treatment and were also found significantly decreased compared with group B.
Conclusion: It is concluded that tamoxifen exerts a beneficial effect on sperm density and number of live spermatozoa but it has no substantial effect in sperm motility and morphology.