Abstract
53 boys with a mean testosterone treatment (tt) period of 1.1 yrs were studied. Testicular volume (tv) was analyzed in 33 during a posttherapeutic period of 1.5 yrs or more. Sperm counts were done in 25 and LHRH test in 19 at different intervals after tt. Mean tv was 7.2±2.8 ml (−2.1 SD for bone age 17) at the end of tt and 14.7±4.5 ml (−0.5 SD for bone age 17, the lowest value being −1.9 SD) after a mean post-therapeutic period of 2.0 yrs. Sperm count was above 25×106/ml after a mean period of 1.9 yrs (0.5–5.9 yrs) in 22 boys. The velocity of testicular catch-up growth and of normalisation of sperm count showed great individual variation. In 3 boys with normal tv sperm counts were not yet normal after 1.3–2.9 yrs. There was no correlation between tv and sperm count and between tv or sperm count and duration of tt. LH and FSH values before and after LHRH were low during and at the end of tt, but became normal within a few months. It is concluded that testicular function is suppressed during tt and recovers in general within 2 years.
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Gnehm, H., Zachmann, M., Illig, R. et al. THE RECOVERY OF TESTICULAR FUNCTION AFTER TREATMENT WITH HIGH DOSES OF TESTOSTERONE IN TALL BOYS. Pediatr Res 9, 669 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197508000-00031
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197508000-00031