Hormonal therapy of cryptorchidism: A randomized, double-blind study comparing human chorionic gonadotropin and gonadotropin-releasing hormone

Abstract We conducted a randomized, double-blind study comparing intranasal gonadotropin-releasing hormone (1.2 mg per day for 28 days) with parenteral human chorionic gonadotropin (3300 IU per week for four weeks) in the treatment of cryptorchidism in 33 boys one to five years old (29 with unilateral and 4 with bilateral cryptorchidism). Testicular descent into the scrotum occurred in 3 of the 16 patients (19 percent) treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone and in 1 of the 17 (6 percent) treated with human chorionic gonadotropin (P = 0.23). The mean luteinizing hormone and testosterone levels were similar in both groups before treatment. During treatment, the testosterone levels were significantly increased in both groups, but higher levels occurred in the group treated with human chorionic gonadotropin (P<0.05). In a parallel (but uncontrolled) study of five boys with retractile testes (defined as a nonscrotal testis that could be manipulated into the bottom of the scrotum) who were originally exclu...