Aging and sex hormones in males.
Several large cohort studies have disclosed the trajectories of sex steroids changes overtime in men and their clinical significance. In men the slow, physiological decline of serum testosterone (T) with advancing age overlaps with the clinical condition of overt, pathological hypogonadism. In addition, the increasing number of comorbidities, together with the high prevalence of chronic diseases, all further contribute to the decrease of serum T concentrations in the aging male. For all these reasons both the diagnosis of late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) in men and the decision about starting or not T replacement treatment remain challenging. At present, the biochemical finding of T deficiency alone is not sufficient for diagnosing hypogonadism in older men. Coupling hypogonadal symptoms with documented low serum T represents the best strategy to refine the diagnosis of hypogonadism in older men and to avoid unnecessary treatments.
a Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical , Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia , Modena , Italy.
Maria Chiara
MC
Decaroli
a Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical , Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia , Modena , Italy.|b Azienda USL of Modena , Modena , Italy.
Vincenzo
0000-0001-8169-0696
V
Rochira
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D015519:Bone Density; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol
bone mineral density; estradiol; late-onset hypogonadism (LOH); menopause; replacement treatment; sex steroids; testosterone