Suppression and Recovery of Sperm Production in Men Treated with Testosterone Enanthate for One Year. A Study of a Possible Reversible Male Contraceptive

Abstract

A group of 21 subjects was recruited among men requesting surgical sterilization to conduct a study on the efficacy of testosterone enanthate (TE) as a possible male contraceptive. Sixteen men completed the study. Administration of 200 mg TE (im) every 10 to 12 days maintained azoospermia. Less frequent injections (every 2 or 3 weeks) resulted in break‐through of sperm production. The azoospermia was associated with normal plasma testosterone levels, suppressed circulating FSH and undetectable LH. No untoward clinical side effects were noted. In 11 of the 16 subjects observations on recovery of sperm production were made. In all cases resumption of sperm production was noted. In two cases pregnancy occurred (5 to 7 weeks and 11 to 13 weeks after discontinuation of treatment). Since in most subjects long‐term recovery data were not available, observations on the quantitative aspects of recovery and relationship to the time interval after cessation of treatment could not be made. Copyright © 1978, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved