title: Awareness of andropause in males: a North Indian study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  According to the Indian census 2011, India has the largest population of the elderly. Very few studies have been carried out in North India to assess the awareness about andropause in men, which is why this study was conceived.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the awareness about andropause and its treatment modalities among the men of Chandigarh.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study was conducted at an Urban Health Training Center (UHTC-44 B) of Government Medical College and Hospital Sector 32, Chandigarh (GMCH) in male patients attending the outpatient department. This non-interventional individual cross-sectional study was carried out from August 2010 to August 2011 in men aged 40 years and above. Systematic, random sampling was carried out and the study sample comprised 757 men. The subjects were given pre-structured and pre-tested questionnaires that had questions pertaining to socio-demographic profile, ADAM scale, views about andropause, its treatment modalities, etc.,
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of the sample size of 757 men, subjects from the urban area (323; 43.1) were more in contrast to that of the peri-urban (41; 31.9) and slum areas (393; 259). Maximum number of patients belonged to the age group of 40-49 years (342; 26.3), followed by those in age group 60-69 years (141; 18.6). It was found that awareness about the term andropause was found only among 17 (2.2%) subjects, whereas the knowledge of a syndrome synonymous to that of menopause in females was even less 7 (0.9%) patients positive for andropause were found to increase with increase of age (40-49; 35.7, 50-59; 81.2, 60-69; 96.5). Only 123 (11.4%) had an idea about the treatment of andropause. The keenness to resort to treatment or seek medical advice was shown by 355 (47.3%). Subjects in the age group of less than 60 years resorted to injections (15; 4.7) and transdermal patches (6; 1.09) as testosterone-replacement therapy. Herbal medicines were especially taken by those subjects in the age group 60-70 years, (74.3%; 101).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Awareness about andropause and its treatment modalities is less in men.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College And Hospital Sec-32, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Munish
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ashat
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Puri
authors.forename: Amarjeet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Sandeep Singh
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sarpal
authors.forename: Naveen K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Goel
authors.forename: Vipin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Koushal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D000728:Androgens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D047649:Andropause; D001364:Awareness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D013739:Testosterone