Enclomiphene In Treating Male Hypogonadism: Efficacy And Outcomes

Male hypogonadism is a drop in the production of sperm and/or the hormone testosterone. There are two types of male hypogonadism.

Primary male hypogonadism, sometimes referred to as primary testicular failure, is typically caused by a problem with the testicles that is acquired (such as inflammation, injury, or tumor). It can also result from a health condition you were born with, such as missing or undescended testicles, or a rare genetic condition like Klinefelter syndrome or Noonan syndrome.

An issue in the hypothalamus or pituitary gland regions of the brain causes secondary male hypogonadism. The hypothalamus and pituitary gland control the production of testosterone. Secondary male hypogonadism can also be caused by an acquired illness or injury like head trauma, HIV/AIDS, or obesity. It may also be caused by a health condition present at birth, such as isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, Kallmann syndrome, or Prader-Willi syndrome.

It is also possible to have both primary and secondary male hypogonadism simultaneously. In this article, we will discuss the current research on using enclomiphene for male hypogonadism, describe how it works, and discuss how effective it is.

How Enclomiphene Works

Enclomiphene works by blocking estrogen and increasing FSH and LH levels. It is a non-steroidal selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) that blocks estrogen because it binds to estrogen receptors in the brain’s hypothalamus region, which signals to the body that it is not receiving enough estrogen. Then, to produce more estrogen and other hormones, enclomiphene stimulates the production of FSH and LH.

Effectiveness of Enclomiphene

Enclomiphene has been found effective in treating secondary male hypogonadism, and it offers certain benefits that other treatment options do not, such as preserved fertility, sperm counts, and testicle size.¹

Compared to testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), enclomiphene has been found to cause fewer side effects and does not cause withdrawal symptoms when treatment is stopped. Enclomiphene also works differently than TRT. Enclomiphene causes your body to produce more of its own testosterone, while TRT supplies your body with synthetic testosterone.

A 2016 study found that enclomiphene increases follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and serum testosterone without lowering sperm counts.² This sets enclomiphene apart from other treatment options for secondary male hypogonadism because it does not diminish fertility. Enclomiphene may be a good treatment option for men who have secondary hypogonadism but cannot undergo testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).

It’s important to be aware that taking enclomiphene can cause some risks and side effects, such as:

Conclusion

Enclomiphene is a prescription medication that treats secondary male hypogonadism by blocking estrogen production, preserving fertility and normal sperm counts, and increasing the production of the hormones FSH, LH, and testosterone. It can be a good alternative to TRT because it does not cause infertility or shrinking of the testicles. Enclomiphene makes your body produce more testosterone naturally instead of giving it synthetic testosterone through TRT.

The side effects that may be caused by enclomiphene are generally not as harmful or serious as the potential side effects associated with TRT, but you should stop taking enclomiphene if you develop blurred vision or breast tenderness.

Talk to your doctor if you are interested in treating your secondary male hypogonadism with enclomiphene.