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High-dose androgen treatment showed no adverse effects on fatherhood
Hendriks AEJ. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010;95:5233-5240.
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Boys treated with high-dose sex steroids during adolescence to halt height growth appear to have similar semen quality and comparable potential for fatherhood later in life as untreated boys, according to a Dutch study.
Although the popularity of this treatment has decreased, researchers in the Netherlands noted that high doses of androgens have been widely used to reduce final height in tall boys. Previous studies, however, indicate that these sex steroids may have long-lasting effects on pituitary gonadal functioning.
To determine whether high-dose androgen treatment affects reproductive capabilities during adulthood, the researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 60 treated and 56 untreated men. Mean age at treatment was 14.2 years and mean treatment duration was 15.6 months. Follow-up was completed a mean 21.2 years later.
Thirty-six treated and 30 untreated men attempted to achieve fatherhood. The probability of conception within 1 year was comparable between the groups, according to the researchers, with 72% of treated men and 79% of untreated men attaining this goal (P=.08). The odds of having at least one live birth were also similar (OR=1.27; 95% CI, 0.28-5.68), the researchers said.
Data also indicated that 18% of treated and 23% of untreated men had left-sided varicocele (P=.05), with no observable differences in prevalence or severity between the groups.
Results revealed no significant differences in testicular volume, sperm quality and serum luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and inhibin B levels among treated and untreated men. Serum testosterone, however, appeared reduced in treated men, with mean adjusted levels of 13.3 nmol/L vs. 15.2 nmol/L in untreated men (P=.005).
“Future research is required to determine whether declining testosterone levels may become clinically relevant for these men as they age,” the researchers wrote.
Age at initiation of treatment also appeared to be positively associated with serum follicle-stimulating hormone (P=.002) and inhibin B (P=.003) levels.
Disclosures: This work was supported by Ace Pharmaceuticals, Ferring Pharmaceuticals and the Foundation De Drie Lichten in the Netherlands.
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