Subcutaneous gonadotropin therapy in male patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.
OBJECTIVE
The response to subcutaneous (SC) gonadotropin replacement therapy, using human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) or hCG alone, was evaluated in male hypothalamic hypogonadism.


METHODS
Sixteen patients with hypothalamic hypogonadism were treated with gonadotropins for induction of puberty and normalization of spermatogenesis. The results were analyzed retrospectively.


METHODS
The study was carried out in a clinical endocrinology department providing tertiary care and in private practices of endocrinology.


METHODS
Eight patients with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and eight patients with Kallmann's syndrome in prepubertal or early pubertal stages.


METHODS
Human chorionic gonadotropin and hMG were administered SC in individual dosages.


METHODS
Increase of serum testosterone (T), testicular volume, semen volume, and sperm count were evaluated.


RESULTS
Normalization of serum T and complete sexual maturation was achieved in all patients. Spermatogenesis was induced in all but two patients. Seven patients showed normal findings in semen volume and sperm count, and two patients had semen quality close to normal. In five patients sperm count remained less than 10 x 10(6)/mL.


CONCLUSIONS
The results obtained by SC gonadotropin replacement prove this mode of administration to be effective in stimulating steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis in hypogonadotropic males.
Saal
W
W
Division of Clinical Endocrinology, University of Mainz, Germany.
Happ
J
J
Cordes
U
U
Baum
R P
RP
Schmidt
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005058:Eunuchism / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D008596:Menotropins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013737:Testis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D013739:Testosterone; D008596:Menotropins