Testosterone suppression

Buchter D, Behre HM, Kliesch S, Chirazi A, Nieschlag E, Assmann G, von Eckardstein A. Effects of testosterone suppression in young men by the gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonist cetrorelix on plasma lipids, lipolytic enzymes, lipid transfer proteins, insulin, and leptin. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 1999 107(8) 522-9. 

The philosophy of evidence-based practice is widely accepted, although operational and implementation issues represent major barriers. One of the significant barriers is a shortage of evidence reports on topics of critical interest, and the lack of a national infrastructure to prepare such reports. In response to this need, AHRQ has funded 12 Evidence-based Practice Centers to conduct systematic, comprehensive analyses and syntheses of the scientific literature to develop evidence reports and technology assessments on clinical topics that are common, expensive, and present challenges to decision makers. Since December 1998, 11 evidence reports have been released on topics that include sleep apnea, traumatic brain injury, alcohol dependence, cervical cytology, urinary tract infection, depression, dysphasia, sinusitis, stable angina, testosterone suppression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. 

For patients who initially received an LH-RH agonist alone, castration testosterone levels should be documented. Patients with inadequate testosterone suppression (>20 ng/dL) can be treated by adding an antiandrogen or performing an orchiectomy. If castration testosterone levels have been achieved, the patient is considered to have androgen-independent disease, and palliative androgen-independent salvage therapy can be used. 

Testosterone suppression of female enzymes. In contrast to the positive regulation by testosterone of the male-specific enzymes, testosterone suppresses expression of the female-specific CYP2C12 as well as the female-predominant enzymes CYP2A1 and... 

If testosterone levels are not suppressed (i.e., greater than 20 ng/dL) after initial LHRH agonist therapy, an antiandrogen or orchiectomy may be indicated. If testosterone levels are suppressed, the disease is considered androgen independent and should be treated with palliative therapy. 

Inhibit prolactin inhibitory factor, thereby increasing prolactin levels Suppress testosterone-mediated stimulation of libido... 

Plasma prolactin levels are reduced with acute treatment and remain suppressed after 28 days of chronic treatment (Murphy et al. 1998). With acute treatment, no effects are seen on plasma luteinizing hormone or testosterone levels. However, chronic dietary 5% ginseng increases testosterone levels in male rats (Fahim et al. 1982). Chronic ginsenosides do not alter posterior pituitary hormones oxytocin and vasopressin (Zierer 1991). Similarly, human males administered ginseng extract showed an increase in plasma testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone, but a decrease in prolactin (Salvati et al. 1996). 

Researchers discovered that MPA also had effects on men. When injected into a man, MPA accelerates the metabolism of testosterone while also suppressing its production. The result is a reduction of up to 75 percent in the amount of testosterone in the man s body, thus lowering the intensity of inappropriate sexual cravings and the frequency of unacceptable erotic pre-... 

Hormone implants can be used for long-term stimulation or suppression of odor production. Scent marking is stimulated by testosterone in gerbils and wolves (Asa etal., 1990). 

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