The effects of alcoholic liver disease and alcohol ingestion on sex hormone levels.

This study showed that alcohol significantly decreases plasma testosterone levels, with changes noted as early as the first day of alcohol use (loss of pulsatile secretion). This effect is due, in part, to a direct testicular action since it occurred without LH suppression and in the presence of elevated LH levels. More chronic use of alcohol resulted in a suppression of LH. Thus, alcohol use in nonalcoholic men is associated with an effect both at the testicular and hypothalamic-pituitary levels.