LOW-DOSE OF CYPROTERONE-ACETATE AND TESTOSTERONE ENANTHATE FOR CONTRACEPTION IN MEN

After a control phase, 10 normal men received cyproterone acetate (CPA ) at a dose of 25 mg/day (CPA-25; n = 5) or 12.5 mg/day (CPA-12.5; n = 5) plus testosterone enanthate (TE) 100 mg/week, for 16 weeks. Throug hout the study sperm counts were performed every 2 weeks, and luteiniz ing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone, bi ochemical and haematological tests were performed every 4 weeks, All f ive men in group CPA-25 and three men in group CPA-12.5 achieved azoos permia, One man in group CPA-25 was azoospermic by week 12 of hormone administration, but had a sperm count of 0.1x10(6)/ml at week 16, Time to azoospermia was 9.0 +/- 1.3 and 8.7 +/- 0.7 weeks in groups CPA-25 and CPA-12.5 respectively. Gonadotrophins were decreased by week 4 of hormone administration, remained around the minimum detectability of the assay for the duration of hormone administration and returned to b aseline after stopping hormone administration. Testosterone values did not change. No change in any biochemical parameters was found. Haemat ological parameters were decreased at week 16 of hormone administratio n and returned to baseline after stopping hormone administration. In c onclusion, these results suggest that an hormonal regimen consisting o f testosterone plus a progestin with anti-androgenic properties holds promise as an effective, safe and reversible male contraceptive.