EFFECT OF PARENTERAL TESTOSTERONE THERAPY ON PENILE DEVELOPMENT IN BOYS WITH HYPOSPADIAS

Forty boys with hypospadias received 2 mg/kg testosterone esters intra muscularly 5 and 2 weeks before surgical correction of the hypospadias . The effects on penile development were determined 3 and 5 weeks afte r the first injection and 3 and 12 months post-operatively. A signific ant effect on penile development was shown. This effect disappeared du ring the first year following treatment. There was no effect on bone m aturation, children's height and the ultimate testosterone level. All adverse effects disappeared after cessation of therapy. Androgen recep tor deficiency as a possible cause of hypospadias is not supported by our observations.