Prostate-Sparing Effects in Primates of the Potent Androgen 7α-Methyl-19-Nortestosterone: A Potential Alternative to Testosterone for Androgen Replacement and Male Contraception
December 1998
in “
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
”
7α-Methyl-19-Nortestosterone MENT testosterone luteinizing hormone LH serum lipids prostate growth androgen replacement therapy male contraception dihydrotestosterone DHT 5α-reductase androgenic alopecia acne testosterone luteinizing hormone LH serum lipids prostate growth androgen replacement therapy male contraception dihydrotestosterone DHT 5α-reductase androgenic alopecia acne
TLDR MENT could be a better option than testosterone for male hormone therapy and birth control because it works well at lower doses and has fewer side effects on the prostate.
In the 1998 study, researchers found that 7α-Methyl-19-Nortestosterone (MENT) was significantly more potent than testosterone in castrated male monkeys, with a minimum dose of 0.3 mg/day required to suppress luteinizing hormone (LH) compared to 3.0 mg/day for testosterone. MENT was 10 times more potent in supporting body weight and affecting serum lipids, but only 2-3 times more potent in stimulating prostate growth. The study, which involved groups of 6 monkeys each, suggested that MENT could be a more effective alternative to testosterone for androgen replacement therapy and male contraception due to its ability to maintain the beneficial effects of testosterone without excessively stimulating prostate growth. MENT's resistance to conversion to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by 5α-reductase may reduce the risk of side effects such as androgenic alopecia and acne, and its high potency and effectiveness at low doses could allow for more convenient administration methods.
