Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Overtraining affects male reproductive status

A C Roberts1, R D McClure, R I Weiner

  • 1Department of Human Biodynamics, University of California, Berkeley 94720.

Fertility and Sterility
|October 1, 1993
PubMed
Summary

Intense exercise overtraining in men significantly lowers testosterone and sperm count while increasing cortisol. Hormonal levels and sperm concentration returned to normal after training reduction.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The cellular correlates and adolescent reorganisation of cortical myelination networks in the common marmoset.

Communications biology·2026
Same author

Flexible versus Fixed Spatial Self-Ordered Response Sequencing: Effects of Inactivation and Neurochemical Modulation of Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2021
Same author

Trait Anxiety Mediated by Amygdala Serotonin Transporter in the Common Marmoset.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2020
Same author

Trajectories and Milestones of Cortical and Subcortical Development of the Marmoset Brain From Infancy to Adulthood.

Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)·2018
Same author

Orbitofrontal dopamine depletion upregulates caudate dopamine and alters behavior via changes in reinforcement sensitivity.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2014
Same author

Results of hyperparathyroidism treatment.

Anales de cirugia·2010

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Sports Medicine
  • Reproductive Health

Background:

  • The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis regulates reproductive function.
  • Strenuous exercise can impact hormonal balance.
  • Understanding exercise's effect on male reproductive hormones is crucial for athletes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of overtraining on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in endurance-trained men.
  • To determine the relationship between testosterone, cortisol, and sperm concentration during overtraining.

Main Methods:

  • A longitudinal study involving five endurance-trained male volunteers.
  • Overtraining was induced by doubling weekly training volume.
  • Hormonal (testosterone, cortisol) and sperm concentration were measured bimonthly before, during, and after the overtraining period.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Overtraining led to a significant decrease in basal testosterone levels and a significant increase in basal cortisol levels.
  • A strong negative correlation (r = -0.92) was observed between testosterone and cortisol.
  • Sperm concentration decreased by 43% immediately after overtraining and 52% three months later, though remaining within normal fertility ranges.

Conclusions:

  • Overtraining in men disrupts the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, characterized by reduced testosterone and elevated cortisol.
  • The observed hormonal changes may be linked to a subsequent decrease in sperm concentration.
  • Hormonal and sperm parameters normalized after a period of reduced training intensity.