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Baseline follicle‐stimulating hormone is a strong predictor for the outcome of the gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone test in young men with unilateral medium‐ or high‐grade varicocele
Author(s) -
BACH THORSTEN,
PFEIFFER DIETRICH,
TAUBER ROLAND
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
bju international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1464-410X
pISSN - 1464-4096
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-410x.2006.06367.x
Subject(s) - follicle stimulating hormone , luteinizing hormone , varicocele , medicine , endocrinology , hormone , testosterone (patch) , leydig cell , gonadotropin releasing hormone , biology , infertility , pregnancy , genetics
OBJECTIVE To investigate whether the gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) test is an adequate diagnostic tool to identify testicular dysfunction in men with strictly unilateral varicocele and defined testicular volume; and to identify any peripheral venous variable which would predict the result of the GnRH test. PATIENTS AND METHODS In all, 102 GnRH tests were done in men with a left‐sided varicocele. Follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were determined. After intravenous administration of 100 µg GnRH, stimulated LH and FSH levels were measured. FSH levels of >8.2 U/L and LH levels of >51.7 U/L were considered exaggerated. RESULTS In all, 50 men had an exaggerated GnRH test result; all had an exaggerated FSH response and six also had an elevated LH response. The baseline FSH levels were higher ( P < 0.001) and the testicular volume was smaller ( P < 0.01) in men with an exaggerated GnRH test response. All men with a baseline FSH level of >5.6 U/L had an exaggerated GnRH test response. CONCLUSION A baseline FSH level of >5.6 U/L is a good predictor of the GnRH test outcome. Leydig cell function seems mainly undisturbed.