Effect of cigarette smoking on serum FSH, LH and testosterone

A group of forty subjects, 20 smokers and 20 non-smokers, volunteered for studying the effect of cigarette smoking on the pituitary-testicular axis. Serum levels of the reproductive hormones: FSH, LH and testosterone were measured by radioimmunoassay Smokers had lower levels of testosterone and higher levels of FSH as compared to non-smokers This finding was more evident in heavy smokers who smoked more than 20 cigarettes / day, suggesting a dose dependent effect. The study suggests that heavy smoking perhaps affect spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis and may be considered as a risk factor in potentially subfertile men