Published-Ahead-of-Print November 28, 2007, DOI:10.2164/jandrol.107.004226
Journal of Andrology, Vol. 29, No. 3, May/June 2008
Copyright © American Society of Andrology
DOI: 10.2164/jandrol.107.004226
Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Oral Testosterone Enanthate Plus Dutasteride for 4 Weeks in Normal Men: Implications for Male Hormonal Contraception
JOHN K. AMORY*,
,
,
THOMAS F. KALHORN
AND
STEPHANIE T. PAGE*,
,||
From the * Center for Research in Reproduction and
Contraception,
Division of General Internal
Medicine,
Department of Medicine and the
Department of Medicinal Chemistry, ||
Divisions of Endocrinology, Metabolism and
Nutrition, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle,
Washington.
|
Correspondence to: Dr John K. Amory, University of Washington, Box 356429,
1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195 (e-mail:
jamory{at}u.washington.edu). |
Oral administration of testosterone enanthate (TE) and dutasteride
increases serum testosterone and might be useful for male hormonal
contraception. To ascertain the contraceptive potential of oral TE and
dutasteride by determining the degree of gonadotropin suppression mediated by
4 weeks of oral TE plus dutasteride, 20 healthy young men were randomly
assigned to 4 weeks of either 400 mg oral TE twice daily or 800 mg oral TE
once daily in a double-blinded, controlled fashion at a single site. All men
received 0.5 mg dutasteride daily. Blood for measurement of serum luteinizing
hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone,
dihydrotesterone (DHT), and estradiol was obtained prior to treatment, weekly
during treatment, and 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 13, 14, 16, 20, and 24 hours after the
morning dose on the last day of treatment. FSH was significantly suppressed
throughout treatment with 800 mg TE once daily and after 4 weeks of treatment
with 400 mg TE twice daily. LH was significantly suppressed after 2 weeks of
treatment with 800 mg TE, but not with 400 mg TE. Serum DHT was suppressed and
serum estradiol increased during treatment in both groups. High-density
lipoprotein cholesterol was suppresed during treatment, but liver function
tests, hematocrit, creatinine, mood, and sexual function were unaffected. The
administration of 800 mg oral TE daily combined with dutasteride for 28 days
significantly suppresses gonadotropins without untoward side effects and might
have utility as part of a male hormonal contraceptive regimen.
Key words: Androgens, FSH, LH, 5
reductase, male fertility
Copyright © 2008 by The American Society of Andrology.