Andropause: invention, prevention, rejuvenation.
There is a growing interest, as well as a booming industry, in the use of testosterone therapy for middle-aged and older men. This interest has led to the definition of a new condition, termed 'andropause', meaning the putative somatic consequences of gradually falling blood testosterone concentrations during male aging. This trend risks replicating both the rejuvenation fads of a century ago and the recent experience in estrogen therapy for menopause that has been propelled for decades by advocacy substituting for reliable scientific evidence. The current status and prospects for androgen therapy in middle-aged and older men should be evaluated critically from the perspective of male reproductive health during aging. This review appraises current knowledge with a focus on the questionable basis for using androgen therapy to improve male reproductive health during aging.
Handelsman
David J
DJ
Department of Andrology, Concord Hospital, ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2139, Australia. djh@anzac.edu.au
Liu
Peter Y
PY
D000728:Androgens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047649:Andropause; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011315:Preventive Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D012060:Rejuvenation
D000728:Androgens