Periodontal status in men with hypergonadotropic hypogonadism: Effects of testosterone deficiency

Background: The purpose of this clinical study was to evaluate the possible influence of testosterone hormone on common clinical measurements of periodontal disease in men with hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. Methods: Twenty-four hypergonadotropic hypogonadal men (H) and 24 systemically healthy men (S) were divided into two groups as chronic periodontitis and clinically healthy controls after clinical examinations and radiographs. The H group consisted of 12 control (H/C) and 12 chronic periodontitis (H/P) patients, and the S group consisted of 12 control (S/C) and 12 chronic periodontitis (S/P) patients. Plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment loss (CAL) scores were recorded. Results: The mean of all clinical parameters (PI, GI, BOP, PD, and CAL) were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in periodontitis groups (H/P and S/P) than controls (H/C and S/C). There were no significant differences in the PD and CAL scores between periodontitis groups (S/P and H/P). The mean of GI and BOP scores were statistically higher in the H/P group than the S/P group (P < 0.05). There was a negative correlation between GI and free testosterone levels (r = -0.794; P < 0.05). Conclusion: According to these results, serum testosterone levels may possibly influence periodontal disease in men, and testosterone may have an inhibitory effect on gingival inflammation.