Suppression of spermatogenesis by testosterone enanthate in Thai men
Aribarg, A.; Sukcharoen, N.; Chanprasit, Y.; Ngeamvijawat, J.; Kriangsinyos, R.
Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand 79(10): 624-629
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-2208 PMID: 8996996 Document Number: 303477
To assess the effect of testosterone enanthate on the suppression of spermatogenesis, 17 healthy Thai men received weekly intramuscular injections (200 mg) of the hormone, and spermatogenesis was monitored during the suppression, efficacy, and recovery phases. All subjects reached the oligozoospermic threshold during the suppression phase. Median times for the first semen sample to reach sperm concentrations of 5, 3, 1, and 0 million/ml were 58, 70, 84, and 85 days, respectively, and both follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were suppressed below the detection limit. 14 men (82.3%) were consistently azoospermic from the onset of the efficacy phase, while the 3 initially oligozoospermic subjects achieved azoospermia. Variations in rates of azoospermia were unrelated to age, body size, initial testicular volume, or baseline sperm concentrations. There were 2 discontinuations during this phase (due to abnormal liver function tests in 1 case and weight gain and hypertension in another). After injections were stopped, sperm first reappeared in the ejaculate after a median interval of 73 days and normal sperm concentrations were recorded at 3.9 months. Plasma FSH and LH levels rebounded after a median time of 3 months. These findings confirm the potential of testosterone injection as a safe, reversible, effective method of male hormonal contraception.