Korean J Urol.  2004 Jul;45(7):680-684.

The Effect of Weight Training and Aerobic Exercise on Men's Sex Hormone

• Park WH
• Lee KP
• Cho KJ
• Lee MS
• Rha KH

Abstract

PURPOSE: The detrimental effect of strenuous exercise is well documented. The effect of moderate exercise (weight training and aerobic exercise) in healthy men was evaluated by analyzing the trend of hormones responsible for male reproduction.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The subjects were divided into 3 groups: systemically trained by a combination of bench press, sit-up and leg squat by 70% of 1RM for 10 weeks in the weight training group (n=5), systemically trained by a combination of treadmill running or walking by 70% of HRmax for 10 weeks in the aerobic exercise group (n=5), and non-training control group (n=5).
RESULTS
In the weight training group, there were significant reductions of serum testosterone, FSH and LH during exercise (p>0.01). There was no difference in hormone values between weight training and aerobic groups for any of the hormones measured.
CONCLUSIONS
Weight training and aerobic exercise lowered the serum FSH and LH levels, suggesting that moderate exercise may positively affect the reproductive hormonal status of males.

Keyword

Exercise; Testosterone; Follicle stimulating hormone; Sperm; Luteinizing hormone

MeSH Terms

Exercise*
Follicle Stimulating Hormone
Humans
Leg
Luteinizing Hormone
Male
Reproduction
Running
Spermatozoa
Testosterone
Walking
Follicle Stimulating Hormone
Luteinizing Hormone
Testosterone