[Alcohol and fertility: sex hormones]

Alcohol is a noxious substance with considerable effects on men's potency and fertility. In case of acute intoxication as well as in case of long-term effects of ethanol there is a significant decrease of testosterone and a consecutive increase of gonadotrophin LH resulting in primary hypogonadism. Moreover, chronic alcoholism leads to organic damages of the testes and the liver. Consequently the clinical symptoms and laboratory data show complex changes. Aside from the decrease of testosterone there is an increase of oestrogens (chiefly of estrone); thus increased oestrogenial effects are found in connection with changes regarding synthesis, metabolism, conversion, as well as intravascular and intracellular (receptors) binding proteins. These patients often show gynaecomastia.