Abstract
Testosterone treatment in tall boys is widely used to reduce predicted adult height. But there are only few data on testicular function after discontinuation of therapy. We studied 21 young men (22 ± 2.8 yrs. of age) by LH-RH-test and analysis of spermatic fluid 1-12 yrs. after therapy. LH (1.79 ± 0.72 μg/l and FSH (0.78 ± 0.9μg/l) could be stimulated by LH-RH-test up to peak levels of 8.54 ± 3.83 and 1.7 ± 1.59 μg/l, respectively. 5 of 21 men showed pathological results. Mean testicular volume was 25.3 ± 7.6 ml but ranged from 10 to 40 ml. Results of spermatic fluid analysis are shown in the table. 4 of 19 sperm counts were below a normal limit of 20 mio./ml. Further criteria applied for evaluation of sperm quality increased the percentage of pathological conditions up to 50 %.
These findings suggest consequences for testicular function and reproduction, if supraphysiological doses of testosterone are administered to pubertal boys for reduction of predicted height.
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Willig, R., Brod, R., Stahnke, N. et al. 120 TESTICULAR FUNCTION AFTER TESTIOSTERONE TREATMENT IN TALL ADOLESCENTS. Pediatr Res 24, 537 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198810000-00141
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198810000-00141