Enclomiphene
FROM THE REEL TO THE RESEARCH
The quick answer, with the evidence attached.
Enclomiphene and testosterone gel can both raise serum testosterone in selected men with secondary hypogonadism, but they do so through different endocrine routes. Enclomiphene increased LH and FSH and maintained sperm concentration in short-term trials; gel suppressed those signals and reduced spermatogenesis. Similar blood testosterone does not establish similar symptom relief, hypertrophy, fertility outcomes or long-term safety.
From Enclomiphene vs Testosterone · Editorial update 2026-10-16
Related comparisons (1)
- Enclomiphene vs Testosterone — A similar blood result. A different control system.
What it is & what research shows
Study example availableEnclomiphene is the trans-isomer of clomiphene and a nonsteroidal selective estrogen-receptor modulator. It is studied for hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal signaling in men with secondary hypogonadism. Two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III studies in overweight men aged 18–60 with secondary hypogonadism measured hormones and sperm-related outcomes over 16 weeks. Testosterone, LH and FSH increased while sperm concentration was maintained compared with testosterone gel. [1.1]
One selected study: Two randomized, double-blind, double-dummy phase III studies compared two oral enclomiphene doses with topical testosterone gel; the studies were placebo-controlled. Participants were overweight men aged 18-60 with secondary hypogonadism and repeatedly measured early-morning total testosterone no higher than 300 ng/dL. The abstract does not state the sample size. A verified dose and schedule have not yet been added to this study summary. After 16 weeks, total testosterone increased in all treatment groups. LH and FSH rose with enclomiphene but fell with testosterone gel; sperm concentration remained normal with enclomiphene and fell markedly with gel. The abstract provides no group sizes, dose-specific effect magnitudes, adverse-event results or author-stated limitations, restricting safety and precision assessment. [2.1]
Sources & reading scope
- [1.1] Enclomiphene phase III studies (2015)Randomized human studies · overweight men with secondary hypogonadism
- [2.1] Oral enclomiphene citrate raises testosterone and preserves sperm counts in obese hypogonadal men, unlike topical testosterone: restoration instead of replacement.Human · Abstract summarized · not a full-paper review
Evidence summarized on PED Evidence
1 completed summaries
1 human-study reports
1 randomized-trial candidates
0 safety-topic reports
More about Enclomiphene: identity, safety & reference details
Also known as Enclomifene
Start with the research
An outcome-specific synthesis has not been prepared for this compound. This is a coverage gap, not evidence that it has no effect.
Open studies and trial records- Uses & research
Two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III studies in overweight men aged 18–60 with secondary hypogonadism measured hormones and sperm-related outcomes over 16 weeks. Testosterone, LH and FSH increased while sperm concentration was maintained compared with testosterone gel. [1]
- Known half-life
No source-verified value in this profile yet. A treatment schedule or duration of an effect is not a drug half-life.
Half-life describes how quickly the measured drug concentration falls by half. It does not set a dosing interval.- Evidence & important limits
The cited studies were short and focused on selected men with secondary hypogonadism; they do not establish muscle-gain effects, long-term fertility outcomes or broad use in healthy people. Regulatory status and eligibility depend on jurisdiction and indication. [1]
Safety & evidence boundaries
The cited studies were short and focused on selected men with secondary hypogonadism; they do not establish muscle-gain effects, long-term fertility outcomes or broad use in healthy people. Regulatory status and eligibility depend on jurisdiction and indication.
Explore safety questions by system
These are literature filters, not claims that this compound causes each effect. A keyword match is not a confirmed adverse reaction.
Identity, names & formulations
Canonical compound: Enclomiphene · enclomiphene
Searchable names: Enclomifene
Names share a parent research page. Different esters, salts, routes and brands are not assumed to have the same half-life, indication or exposure.
Combination evidence stays attached to the studied combination. It is not automatically assigned to each ingredient.
Understand the evidence types
Read the model and design first, then the population, outcome and limitations. These categories describe evidence, not a best-compound ranking.
- Randomized human trials
- Compare assigned interventions. Randomization does not by itself establish low bias or relevance to every population.
- Controlled human studies
- Use a comparison group; allocation and confounding still matter.
- Prospective human research
- Follows participants forward. It may be observational or interventional, so this is not a separate quality grade.
- Observational human research
- Describes associations. Confounding can explain differences.
- Case reports and series
- Useful for unusual events and safety signals, not reliable rates or effect sizes.
- Animal research
- Can test biology and function in a living model. Human exposure, benefit and safety remain separate questions.
- Cell and tissue research
- Tests responses in a preparation, including human-derived cells. It is not a human participant trial.
- Mechanistic and computational evidence
- Helps explain or predict a pathway; predictions need experimental and clinical testing.
- Anecdotal reports
- Self-reported experiences can generate questions. Product identity, selection bias and other interventions may be uncontrolled.
Systematic reviews synthesize studies and depend on their quality. Preprint status and abstract versus full-paper reading are separate labels. Citation popularity measures attention, not reliability. A study summary is not a formal quality appraisal.
Sources for this profile
- 1. Enclomiphene phase III studies (2015) Randomized human studies · overweight men with secondary hypogonadism
Reference facts checked 2026-09-16. Source scope is listed above; this is not a formal quality appraisal. See each label for full prescribing information.
Study model describes the source. Confidence depends on methods, replication, population and outcome.
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Enclomiphene study summaries
Human-first reading order. Intervention candidates are distinguished from background mentions in the library.