Treatment of androgen deficiency in the aging male

    Fertility and Sterility
    |October 24, 2006
    PubMed

    Insights

    Androgen replacement therapy guidelines exist for older men, but clinical trial data are limited. It remains unproven if declining testosterone in aging men causes deficiency treatable with therapy.

    Area of Science:

    • Gerontology
    • Endocrinology
    • Men's Health

    Background:

    • Clinical guidelines for androgen replacement therapy (ART) in older men have been proposed.
    • Current evidence supporting ART is derived from a limited number of clinical trials.
    • The efficacy of ART in addressing health-related outcomes in aging men is not definitively established.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To evaluate the existing evidence base for androgen replacement therapy in older men.
    • To determine if the age-related decline in testosterone constitutes a treatable androgen deficient state.
    • To assess the potential health benefits of androgen therapy in the aging male population.

    Main Methods:

    • Systematic review of existing clinical trials on androgen replacement therapy.
    • Analysis of data regarding testosterone decline in aging men.
    • Evaluation of health-related outcomes associated with testosterone levels and therapy.

    Main Results:

    • The data supporting current ART guidelines are based on a small number of clinical trials.
    • A definitive link between age-related testosterone decline and a treatable androgen deficient state has not been established.
    • Evidence for significant health improvements from ART in aging men is currently insufficient.

    Conclusions:

    • Further robust clinical trials are necessary to validate androgen replacement therapy for older men.
    • The current evidence does not conclusively support widespread androgen therapy for age-related testosterone decline.
    • More research is needed to define the specific conditions and benefits of androgen therapy in aging men.

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