title: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone test for hypogonadic men.
abstract: Gonadotropin patterns before and after stimulation with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) have been studied in 69 hypogonadic men of various types: patients with expansive hypothalamus--pituitary disorders before and after surgery, patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, and patients with oligozoospermia or azoospermia who have primary partial or total testicular deficiency. Three characteristic gonadotropin patterns were found: (a) low basal values of LH and FSH with either absent or decreased and delayed responses; (b) normal basal values and pituitary responses above the normal range; or (c) high basal values and pituitary responses above the normal range. These gonadotropin patterns were correlated with disorders of the hypothalamus--pituitary--testis axis. The advantages and disadvantages of the GnRH test for the clinical evaluation of male hypogonadism are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000378:metabolism*; D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000378:metabolism; D010906:Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D012636:Secretory Rate
chemical_list: D006062:Gonadotropins; D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones; D010906:Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone