Serum sex steroids, gonadotrophins and sex hormone-binding globulin in prostatic hyperplasia

BACKGROUND: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) develops in elderly males when serum androgens arerelativ ely lower than in healthy younger males, but it is not well understood whether and how sex steroid s arealtered in prostatic hyperplasia. It is also uncertain whether there is any change in sex steroi d levels in malesolder than 40 years of age. The use of androgens in elderly males is often discouraged because of the probableworsening effect of androgens on prostatism. This study aimed to determin e the relationship between prostatichyperplasia and sex steroid levels and whether there is any significant change in these hormones after the ageof 40 years.SUBJECTS AND METHODS:We studi ed healthy males of age≥40 years with (n=92) or without (n=93) cli nicalprostatic hyperpl asia. Serum testosterone, estradio l, gonadotrophins and sex hormon e-binding globulin (SHBG)were compared. The hormon es and SHBG were also correlated with age.RESULTS: No signifi cant difference was found in any hormon e in cases with prostatic hyperplasia as comparedwi th the controls.There was no signifi cant age-related change in any hormone except estradio l where as a negativecorrelation (P .00 3) with age was found .CONCLUSIONS: Serum sex steroids and SHBG remain ed unchanged in symptomati c prostatic hyperplasiaand except for estradio l there was no significant age-related change in serum testosterone, gonadotrophins andSHBG in healthy males after the fourth decade. More studies are needed to confirm the age-related decline of estrogens in males.