title: Twenty-five milligrams of clomiphene citrate presents positive effect on treatment of male testosterone deficiency - a prospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Male testosterone deficiency is associated with bad sexual function and quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to determine whether a daily dose of 25 mg clomiphene citrate (CC) is effective in stimulating the endogenous testosterone production pathway and to address the applicability of this medication as a therapeutic option for symptomatic hypogonadism.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective study. Men with low sexual desire and testosterone levels (T) below 400 ng/dL were selected to receive CC. Blood samples were obtained to determine baseline measurements of serum T, estradiol, LH, lipid profile and fasting plasma glucose. Each patient was treated with a daily dose of 25 mg CC for at least 3 months. Patients were asked if they experienced any side effects related to the use of CC and if they experienced any improvement in their sexual profile. Paired samples T-test was utilized to analyze responses to therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our cohort consisted of 125 men with hypogonadism and low libido. Mean age was 62 years (± 11.1 years). Serum T levels ranged from 309 ng/dL (baseline, mean value) to 642 ng/dL (3 months after CC initiation, mean value) (p < 0.001). Serum cholesterol levels ranged from 197 to 186 mg/dL (p = 0.003). There were no statistically significant differences when comparing pre and post-treatment HDL-Cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting plasma glucose and prolactin. All men reported improvements in the post-treatment QoL scores. No serious adverse events were recorded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CC was effective in stimulating the endogenous production of testosterone. A lower level of total cholesterol was verified after three months of treatment. This medication should be considered as a therapeutic option for some patients with symptomatic male testosterone deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Andrologia e Urologia, Porto Alegre, Brazil. daroscarlos@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Carlos Teodósio
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Da Ros
authors.forename: Márcio Augusto
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Averbeck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002996:Clomiphene / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D049449:Luminescence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D002996:Clomiphene; D013739:Testosterone