Decreased levels of genuine large free hCG alpha in men presenting with abnormal semen analysis.

Background: The pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and its free subunits (hCG alpha, hCG beta) are produced in the male reproductive tract and found in high concentrations in seminal fluid, in particular hCG alpha. This study aimed to elucidate changes in peptide hormone profiles in patients showing abnormal semen analyses and to determine the genuineness of the highly abundant hCG alpha.

Methods: Seminal plasma was obtained from 45 male patients undergoing semen analysis during infertility workups.