Undescended testis: comparison of two protocols of treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin. Effect on testicular descent and hormonal response.

A randomized study of two protocols of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) treatment was performed in 183 prepubertal boys between 7 months and 12 years of age: protocol I, in which the boys were given 7 injections of 1,500 IU every other day, and protocol II consisting of 4 injections of 100 IU/kg at 4- to 5-day intervals. In both protocols, by the end of the test, testosterone had risen significantly to values within the normal adult male range. However, the amplitude of the rise was slightly but significantly lower using protocol II (4.08 +/- 2.07 ng/ml) than protocol I (5.16 +/- 2.73 ng/ml). It would thus appear that repetition of the hCG injection at intervals of less than 4 days is unnecessary, and that a total stimulation period of 2-3 weeks is sufficient. Although not correlated with testosterone levels, the success rates for treatment were similar in both protocols and comparable to rates reported in the literature.