Generic placeholder image

Current Pharmaceutical Design

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1381-6128
ISSN (Online): 1873-4286

Review Article

Gonadotropin Treatment for the Male Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism

Author(s): Luca Boeri, Paolo Capogrosso and Andrea Salonia*

Volume 27, Issue 24, 2021

Published on: 23 May, 2020

Page: [2775 - 2783] Pages: 9

DOI: 10.2174/1381612826666200523175806

Price: $65

Abstract

Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) is caused by a dysfunction in the hypothalamus and/or the pituitary gland and it can be congenital or acquired. This condition is biochemically characterized by low or inappropriately normal gonadotropin levels along with low total testosterone levels. If fertility is not an issue, testosterone therapy is the treatment of choice to induce and maintain secondary sexual characteristics and sexual function. Spermatogenesis is frequently impaired in patients with HH, but usually responsive to hormonal therapy such as gonadotropin therapy or GnRH supplementary/replacement therapy. When gonadotropins are the choice of treatment, conventional therapy includes human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) along with different FSH formulations: human menopausal gonadotropins (hMG), highly purified urinary FSH preparations (hpFSH) (e.g., urofollitropin) or recombinant FSH (rFSH). The combination of FSH and hCG demonstrated to be associated with better outcomes than single compounds, whereas similar results were obtained with different FSH preparations in male individuals; both regarding the ability to stimulate spermatogenesis and eventually inducing physiology pregnancy. Gonadotropins can be administered either subcutaneously or intramuscularly. The combination therapy with hCG and FSH for a period of 12-24 months was found to promote testicular growth in almost all patients, spermatogenesis in approximately 80% and pregnancy rates in the range of 50%. Gynecomastia is the most common side effect of gonadotropin therapy and is due to hCG stimulation of aromatase causing increased secretion of estradiol. The therapeutic success is higher in patients with post-pubertal HH, in those without previously undescended testes, in patients with higher baseline testicular volume, who underwent repeated cycles of therapy and in patients with higher baseline inhibin B serum concentrations. Reversal of hypogonadism can occur in up to 10% of patients but its physiopathologic mechanism has yet to be elucidated. In conclusion, gonadotropin therapy is effective in promoting puberty and in supporting spermatogenesis onset and preservation in HH patients with either hypothalamic or pituitary conditions.

Keywords: Gonadotropin, male hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, infertility, FSH, hCG, HPG.


Rights & Permissions Print Cite
© 2024 Bentham Science Publishers | Privacy Policy