Testosterone supplementation in hypogonadal men: our personal experience.
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.
Giuberti
Alfio
A
Urology Department, San Gerardo Hospital, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy. uo.urologia@hsgerardo.org
Picozzi
Stefano Carlo Maria
SC
Mazza
Luciano
L
Casu
Marilena
M
Viganò
Paolo
P
Manganini
Vittorio
V
Strada
Guido Raffaele
GR
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
D000728:Androgens; D013739:Testosterone