Testicular compression during exercise: serum testosterone levels.
Serum testosterone levels are increased in athletes after short-term exercise. To investigate whether mechanical compression could contribute to this increase, we subjected 14 male volunteers to mechanical testicular compression via a pneumatic cuff. The serum testosterone levels were sampled at time intervals before, during and after compression. There was a rise in mean serum testosterone levels of 16.7-18.2%, with a maximal increase at 1.5 min after compression was released. Mechanical compression alone did not explain the rise in serum testosterone, although it may have a contributory role.
Department of Urology, Medical University, Medunsa, South Africa.
G
G
Boustead
M
M
Bornman
S
S
Reif
J M
JM
Oosthuizen
H G
HG
Luus
D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011312:Pressure; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
D013739:Testosterone