open access
Effect of breath-hold diving (freediving) on serum androgen levels - a preliminary report
open access
Abstract
Introduction: Breath-hold diving (freediving) is a discipline that makes considerable demands on sportsmen, which can amount to extreme distress. It is also known that psychological and physical strain affects hormonal milieus. We wanted to assess the impact of a stressful event (such as breath-hold diving) on the androgen status of men.
Material and methods: We evaluated serum gonadotropins and androgen concentrations in four divers before diving, immediately post, and 60 minutes after diving.
Results: We found that neither gonadotropins nor total testosterone, free testosterone, calculated free testosterone or bioavailable testosterone concentrations changed significantly during diving practice.
Conclusions: We conclude that the acute distress associated with breath-hold diving does not impact upon gonadotropins or androgen concentrations. (Pol J Endocrinol 2012; 63 (5): 381-385)
Abstract
Introduction: Breath-hold diving (freediving) is a discipline that makes considerable demands on sportsmen, which can amount to extreme distress. It is also known that psychological and physical strain affects hormonal milieus. We wanted to assess the impact of a stressful event (such as breath-hold diving) on the androgen status of men.
Material and methods: We evaluated serum gonadotropins and androgen concentrations in four divers before diving, immediately post, and 60 minutes after diving.
Results: We found that neither gonadotropins nor total testosterone, free testosterone, calculated free testosterone or bioavailable testosterone concentrations changed significantly during diving practice.
Conclusions: We conclude that the acute distress associated with breath-hold diving does not impact upon gonadotropins or androgen concentrations. (Pol J Endocrinol 2012; 63 (5): 381-385)
Keywords
breath-hold diving; freediving; distress; psychological distress; androgens; testosterone; gonadotropins
About this articleTitle
Effect of breath-hold diving (freediving) on serum androgen levels - a preliminary report
Journal
Issue
Article type
Original paper
Pages
381-387
Published online
2012-10-31
Page views
628
Article views/downloads
1383
DOI
10.5603/ep.25150
Bibliographic record
Endokrynol Pol 2012;63(5):381-387.
Keywords
breath-hold diving
freediving
distress
psychological distress
androgens
testosterone
gonadotropins
Authors
Paweł Jóźków
Marek Mędraś
Jan Chmura
Adam Kawczyński
Bartosz Morawiec
