title: Testosterone supplementation in hypogonadal men: our personal experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Around thirty years of age, we assist to a physiological, progressive and slow involution of the testicular function accompanied by a fall of the plasmatic levels of testosterone. Rarely hypogonadism is manifest in so young age with signs and symptoms, unless it is subsequent to severe events. After 50 years of age, it can present with a series of aspects that negatively influence the physical and sexual efficiency. The aim of this study is to prove if the replacement therapy with testosterone is able to restore a physiological gonadal function, without incurring in unpleasant side effects to prostate, liver and cardiac muscle.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report our experience on 123 patients over 60 years of age (mean age 71) and 12 patients over 30 (mean age 37). These last ones were submitted to andrologic assessment after genital trauma. Both groups of patients have reached our observation from December 2000 to June 2003 for important asthenia and decrease of libido associated with impairment of secondary sexual characters and erectile deficit of various degrees. Respectively 76 and 12 patients did not show contraindications for testosterone therapy and they began injections with testosterone for at least 6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although compliance to testosterone treatment has not been equal in the time in all the subjects, undesirable effects are not highlighted. All the patients have reported complete or partial recovery of physical efficiency and improvement of sexual life, evaluated by means of IIEF scale and ADAM-AMS questionnaires. The replacement pharmacological treatment with testosterone improves the physical and sexual performance of the adult patient affected by symptomatic hypogonadism.
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, San Gerardo Hospital, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy. uo.urologia@hsgerardo.org
authors.forename: Alfio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giuberti
authors.forename: Stefano Carlo Maria
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Picozzi
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mazza
authors.forename: Marilena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Casu
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Viganò
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Manganini
authors.forename: Guido Raffaele
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Strada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000728:Androgens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013739:Testosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D013739:Testosterone