Background: Theophylline, also known as 1,3-dimethylxanthine, is a methylxanthine drug that is used in infertility therapy such as male subfertilities. It is a Cyclic-Adenosine Mono Phosphate (cAMP) phosphodiesterase inhibitor (PDEI) which elevates cAMP dependent sperm parameters and capacitation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Theophylline on sperm parameters, viability and maturity of asthenoteratozoospermic men. Materials and Methods: 60 asthenoteratozoospermic patients participated in a double-blind, randomized clinical trial study and were randomly divided into two groups: Placebo, and theophylline (200 mg/day) twice daily. After 3 months of Oral treatment, the sperm parameters were analysed using the CASA system. Then the sperm viability was analyzed using the Eosin-Nigrosine staining and the sperm maturity was also analyzed using Aniline blue staining at the beginning of the trial and at the end of the treatment. The study data was analyzed using T-Test setting and means difference was considered significant at p<0.05. Results: sperm total and progressive motility, count and also the number of sperms with normal morphology increased significantly in theophylline group compared to the placebo group. Also sperm viability and maturity increased significantly in asthenoteratozoospermic men who took theophylline compared to the placebo group, but there was no significant difference in sperm parameters, viability and maturity in the placebo group, before and after administration. Conclusion: The administration of theophylline as an antioxidant, could improve sperm quality and increase sperm viability and maturity. Therefore, this drug can be prescribed in cases of infertile men with asthenoteratozoospermia, but more molecular studies are needed to elucidate the other effects of theophylline administration on male infertility.
