Effect of oral versus intramuscular androgen on blood indices in impotent and infertile patients

ABSTRACT

Stimulatory effects of androgen on red blood cell number, hemoglobin and hematocrit value have been evaluated. This study was done to evaluate the safety of oral uptake of mesterolone and intramuscular injection of testosterone enanthate when given either to impotent or infertile men on the mean value of blood indices. This work comprised 52 patients suffering from either impotence [25 patients] or male infertility [27 patients]. Patients were divided into two groups Mesterolone group [included patients randomized to receive 75 mg daily of oral mesterolone] and testosterone enanthate group [included patients randomized to receive 250 mg monthly of intramuscular testosterone enanthate]. Different blood indices, such as venous hematocrit value, hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, were measured before and three months after administration of androgen therapy. Platelet count, red blood cells count and white blood cells count were also measured before and three months after treatment with androgen. Also, serum testosterone was measured before and at the end of the treatment period. According to the results, it was concluded that mean values of blood indices were significantly increased after administration of both oral and injectable androgen hence, the danger of hemoconcentration may developed. Intramuscular testosterone enanthate is safe on blood indices than oral mesterolone