Research article summary (published 30 Dec 2003):

Relationship between serum gonadotropins and spermatogenic suppression in men undergoing steroidal contraceptive treatment.

Full Abstract

This study aimed to establish whether the degree of suppression of serum FSH and LH was related to sperm concentration in three testosterone (T) plus progestin contraceptive regimens. We measured serum FSH and LH using a modified, highly sensitive immunofluorometric assay in samples obtained from three published studies using T enanthate (TE; 100 and 200 mg weekly) plus daily oral doses of cyproterone acetate (CPA; 5-100 mg), levonogestrel (LNG; 150-500 micro g), or desogestrel (DSG; 150-300 micro g). Overall, men with sperm concentrations below 0.1 million/ml had significantly lower gonadotropin levels (serum FSH, approximately 0.12 IU/liter; serum LH, approximately 0.05 IU/liter) than oligospermic men (sperm concentrations, 0.1-5 million/ml; serum FSH, 0.23-0.5 IU/liter; serum LH, 0.05-0.56 IU/liter), but the relationship was weak, indicating the possible existence of other determinants. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the influence of candidate predictors of spermatogenic effects of the T plus progestin regimens. In the LNG and DSG studies, the marked suppression of serum LH to less than 5% of baseline values (<0.15 IU/liter) was a consistent and highly significant predictor of sperm concentration (reduced to 2-7% that seen at higher LH levels) and the likelihood of its suppression below 1 million/ml (a proposed threshold for contraceptive efficacy). Serum FSH was not a significant independent predictor. The use of DSG and CPA (but not LNG) was a significant independent predictor of sperm suppression, and regimens that contained 200 mg TE weekly caused less spermatogenic suppression than 100 mg TE weekly. These findings suggest that T-progestin contraceptive regimens suppress sperm concentration by gonadotropin-dependent and -independent mechanisms. The suppression of serum LH is a major predictor of the suppression of sperm concentration suppression in the LNG and DSG treatment studies. On the other hand, the greater spermatogenic suppression in regimens containing DSG or CPA suggests that these progestins have additional actions to suppress spermatogenesis via a gonadotropin-independent mechanism(s)

Author information

Author/s: McLachlan, Robert I (RI); Robertson, David M (DM); Pruysers, Enid (E); Ugoni, Antony (A); Matsumoto, Alvin M (AM); Anawalt, Bradley D (BD); Bremner, William J (WJ); Meriggiola, Cristina (C);

Affiliation: Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research, Monash Medical Center, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia. rob.mclachlan(-atsign-)med.monash.edu.au

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism (J Clin Endocrinol Metab), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2004-Jan; vol 89 (issue 1) : pp 142-9

Dates: Created 2004/01/12; Completed 2004/02/11; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 14715841, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 2/18/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MeSH Headings (categories) shown below.

Contraceptive Agents, Male - administration & dosage Cyproterone Acetate - administration & dosage Desogestrel - administration & dosage Follicle Stimulating Hormone - blood Humans Levonorgestrel - administration & dosage Logistic Models

Logistic Models Luteinizing Hormone - blood Male Progestins - administration & dosage Sperm Count Spermatogenesis - drug effects Testosterone - administration & dosage; analogs & derivatives

Note: Bold headings indicate primary MeSH headings or qualifiers.

Associated Chemicals: Contraceptive Agents, Male (0) ; Progestins (0) ; testosterone enanthate (315-37-7) ; Cyproterone Acetate (427-51-0) ; Desogestrel (54024-22-5) ; Testosterone (58-22-0) ; Levonorgestrel (797-63-7) ; Luteinizing Hormone (9002-67-9) ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone (9002-68-0)

Related articles

These are the most related articles currently in our database:

• Steroidal compounds (injectable and implants) affecting spermatogenesis in men. 30 Aug 1976
• FSH: II. Evidence for its mediating role on testosterone secretion in hypopituitarism. 30 Jan 1977
• [Physiology and exploration of the endocrine testicle] 9 Sep 1977
• Pituitary-gonadal function in male patients with myotonic dystrophy- serum luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone and testosterone levels and histological dmaage of the testis. 30 Jan 1977
• [Plasma concentrations and urinary excretion of gonadotropins in azoo and oligospermia. Relationship with spermatogenesis and plasma concentration of androgens (author's transl)] 29 Jun 1977
• Effects of exogenous gonadotropic and steroid hormones on the social behaviour and gonadal maturation of male domestic ducklings Anas platyrhynchos L. 29 Sep 1979
• Correlation of pituitary and testicular responses to stimulation tests in cryptorchid children. 30 Oct 1977
• Pituitary LH and FSH and testosterone secretion in infants with undescended testes. 29 Jun 1977
• Pituitary and testicular response to hypothalamic LH-releasing hormone (LH-RH) in normal and oligospermic men. 30 Dec 1975
• Effect of obesity on the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal function in childhood. 29 Apr 1977

See 100+ related articles.

Related Article Map

Legend: - FREE Full text Article. - Abstract only. - Title only. More help.

See a larger map of 100+ related articles.