title: International expert consensus conference on testosterone deficiency and its treatment held in Prague, Czech Republic.
abstract: An international expert consensus conference regarding testosterone deficiency (TD) (also known as hypogonadism) and its treatment was held on 1 October 2015, in Prague, Czech Republic. The impetus for this meeting was to address several key scientific issues that have been misunderstood or distorted during the recent intense media attention to this topic. Eighteen experts from 11 countries participated, from the disciplines of urology, endocrinology, andrology, diabetology, and basic science research. The goal was to identify scientific concepts for which there was broad agreement. It was noted that recent public controversies regarding testosterone therapy have been anchored by two retrospective studies reporting increased cardiovascular (CV) risks. Both these studies contained major flaws, and are contradicted by a large body of evidence suggesting CV benefits with testosterone therapy. Other topics discussed included the negative impact of TD on male health; the questionable validity of restrictions on treatment based on age-specific cut-offs, presence of identified underlying conditions, or application of rigid biochemical thresholds; and the lack of evidence regarding prostate cancer risks. Final consensus statements (resolutions) are under development. It is hoped these will serve as a scientific foundation for further discussion, and will thereby reduce misinformation regarding TD and its treatment.
authors.affiliation: a Men's Health Boston and Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA .
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morgentaler
authors.affiliation: b Centre for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University Clinics of Muenster , Muenster , Germany .
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zitzmann
authors.affiliation: c Department of Biochemistry and Department of Urology , Boston University School of Medicine , Boston , MA , USA , and.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Traish
authors.affiliation: d Pharmaceutical Medicine Group, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London , London , UK.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fox
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases; D018153:Czech Republic; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013739:Testosterone / Q000172:deficiency*
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone
keywords: Cardiovascular risk; men's health; prostate cancer; testosterone