Suppressed Follicle Stimulating Hormone in Men with Chorionic Gonadotropin Secreting Testicular Tumors

Abstract

Follicle stimulating hormone was measured in the plasma and urine prior to and after treatment in 7 men with testicular tumors secreting chorionic gonadotropin (CG). Plasma FSH was 2.5 ± 0.3 mIU/ml (se) when CG levels were elevated and 10.9 ± 2.1 mIU/ml following treatment when CG levels were normal. Urinary FSH was 0.08 ± 0.01 IU/24 hours when CG levels were elevated and 7.9 ± 1.2 IU/24 hours when CG had returned to normal. Comparable Comparable FSH concentrations in normal men determined in our laboratory are: plasma, 10.2 ± 0.8 mIU/ml, and urine, 5.5 ± 0.5 IU/24 hours. When CG was elevated, the urinary FSH excretion was lower than in any patient group heretofore described. The decreased FSH levels may be due to suppression by increased endogenous estrogen production or to hypothalamic feedback by CG.