Rise in dehydroepiandrosterone and oestrogens during clomiphene administration in normal men

Serum concentrations of LH, FSH and testosterone, and urinary excretion of individual 17-ketosteroids, oestrogenic substances and free cortisol was investigated in 12 normal men after a daily administration of 50 mg clomiphene citrate for 14 days. A significant increase in the serum concentrations of LH, FSH and testosterone was seen after 8 days with a further increase when measured a week later. The percentual increase in urinary excretion of oestrogens and dehydroepiandrosterone was of the same order as the increase in serum testosterone concentrations whereas the increase in androsterone and a aetiocholanolone was significantly lower. The excretion of free cortisol was unaltered. The study that measurements of oestrogens in the urine might be used as a parameter of the stimulatory effect of clomiphene on the hypothalamic - pituitary - gonadal axis in man. In addition, of the results support the hypothesis of an independent effect of clomiphene on adrenal steroidogenesis, not related to the production of glucocorticoids.