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EFFECTS OF NORGESTREL AND ETHINYLOESTRADIOL INGESTION ON SERUM LEVELS OF SEX HORMONES AND GONADOTROPHINS IN MEN
Author(s) -
KJELD J. M.,
PUAH C. M.,
KAUFMAN B.,
LOIZOU S.,
VLOTIDES J.,
GWEE H. M.,
KAHN F.,
SOOD R.,
JOPLIN G. F.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1979.tb03102.x
Subject(s) - endocrinology , medicine , testosterone (patch) , prolactin , norgestrel , dihydrotestosterone , basal (medicine) , levonorgestrel , ingestion , hormone , follicle stimulating hormone , androgen , luteinizing hormone , population , insulin , environmental health , family planning , research methodology
SUMMARY DL‐norgestrel and ethinyloestradiol were ingested separately and in combination by six healthy men. Serum levels of testosterone, 5α‐dihydrotestosterone, oestradiol, FSH, LH and prolactin were measured before (basal), during and after ingestion of the combined drugs. Ethinyloestradiol 50 μg and DL‐norgestrel 500 μg for nine days lowered the levels of testosterone to 8% (1·25 nmol/l = 0·36 ng/ml), 5α‐dihydrotestosterone to 22% (0·39 nmol= 106 pg/ml), oestradiol to 46%(0·025 nmol/l = 6·88 pg/ml), FSH to 31% (0·55 U/l)and LH to 61% (2·37 U/l) of the basal values. All levels had risen on the third day after stopping the drugs and had recovered to pretreatment values within a week. Prolactin values did not show any definite trend of change during the treatment. In three men ethinyloestradiol alone, 50 μg daily for 5 days, reduced serum levels of all three sex hormones to approximately 80% of basal levels and FSH to 70% but left LH and prolactin levels unchanged. In three men DL‐norgestrel alone, 525 ug daily for 4 days, reduced the androgen levels to below 40% of the basal levels, but had little effect on oestradiol levels. FSH, LH and prolactin levels were reduced to 63%, 70% and 65% respectively by the 4 days of DL‐norgestrel treatment. The 26 h effects of DL‐norgestrel were studied in three men who ingested 1050 ug of the drug in one dose. Serum testosterone and 5α‐dihydrotestosterone levels had their greatest depression (30% and 60% respectively) at 12 to 14 h after the ingestion, whereas serum levels of DL‐norgestrel peaked at 2 h after the ingestion. In this study serum FSH levels showed a clear depression in two men but LH and prolactin levels did not change. The results show a powerful effect of DL‐norgestrel in reducing serum androgen levels in men, an effect which may be partly mediated through the concurrent suppression of the pituitary gonadotrophins.