title: Effect of breath-hold diving (freediving) on serum androgen levels -- a preliminary report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breath-hold diving (freediving) is a discipline that makes considerable demands on sportsmen, which can amount to extreme distress. It is also known that psychological and physical strain affects hormonal milieus. We wanted to assess the impact of a stressful event (such as breath-hold diving) on the androgen status of men.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated serum gonadotropins and androgen concentrations in four divers before diving, immediately post, and 60 minutes after diving.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that neither gonadotropins nor total testosterone, free testosterone, calculated free testosterone or bioavailable testosterone concentrations changed significantly during diving practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that the acute distress associated with breath-hold diving does not impact upon gonadotropins or androgen concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, University School of Physical Education, Wrocław, Poland. jozkow@gmail.com
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jóźków
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mędraś
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chmura
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawczyński
authors.forename: Bartosz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Morawiec
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D062485:Breath Holding; D004242:Diving / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D006062:Gonadotropins; D013739:Testosterone