Overtraining and low testosterone levels...
Five endurance-trained men were studied before, immediately after,
and 3 months after overtraining, which was defined as twice the
previous average weekly training volume with unchanged intensity.
Basal testosterone levels decreased to 5.37 +/- 67 ng/mL from
8.68 +/- 93 ng/mL immediately after overtraining and basal cortisol
levels increased to 215.3 +/- 31 ng/mL from 145.7 +/- 27 ng/mL.
Both cortisol and testosterone levels returned to pretraining
values 3 months after resumption of previous training volume.
Sperm count decreased significantly by 43% immediately after overtraining
and by 52% 3 months after overtraining.
These results indicate that overtraining reduces testosterone levels,
which is highly correlated with an increase in levels of cortisol.
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References
Roberts AC, McClure RD, Weiner RI, Brooks GA. (1993). Overtraining
affects male reproductive status. Fertility
and Sterility, 60, 686-692
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