The scientific community at large have denounced use of Lupron, a prostate cancer drug, for treatment of autism. But Dr.Mark Geier and his son, who pioneered the protocol, persist, raising concerns.

The father and son duo have opened as many as eight clinics across the US, and hundreds of parents of autistic children are turning to Lupron in desperation, despite warnings it is scientifically unproven.

Lupron or leuprolide acetate may be used in the treatment of: hormone-responsive cancers such as prostate cancer or breast cancer, estrogen-dependent conditions (such as endometriosis or uterine fibroids), to treat precocious puberty, and to control ovarian stimulation in In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).

Leuprolide is also under investigation for possible use in the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.

The use of the drug in the treatment of autism stems from the belief that thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative once found in some childhood vaccines, is to be blamed for the problem.

Numerous studies have failed to support any of those theories, still fears persist.

Now if autism is caused by mercury, it makes sense to lower the mercury level as treatment. And that can be achieved by lowering the testosterone level, for mercury is known to bind itself irreversibly to testosterone.

Actually Leuprolide has been tested as a treatment for reducing sexual urges in pedophiles and other cases of paraphilia or powerful and persistent sexual interest other than in copulatory or precopulatory behavior.