Subnormal serum testosterone levels in male internal medicine residents.
The consequences of sleep deprivation and stress in residency training have not been quantified. In the course of assembling a control group for other studies, we unexpectedly observed a significant (P less than 0.005) and marked depression of serum testosterone levels in healthy male internal medicine residents (means = 11.8 +/- 1.1 nmol/L, n = 7) compared with other hospital personnel (means = 20.6 +/- 5.3 nmol/L, n = 18). Testosterone concentrations in the two groups were entirely nonoverlapping, while luteinizing hormone levels were not significantly different. We conclude that the stress of residency training leads to a quantifiable depression of gonadal function, and that gonadal steroid concentrations may be useful in evaluating measures intended to reduce that stress.
Singer
F
F
Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York.
Zumoff
B
B
D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000193:education*; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012892:Sleep Deprivation; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000097:blood*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone