Testosterone and men's quality of life

As the worldwide population ages, the emphasis on having a reasonable quality of life in old-age is increasing. In men, age-associated testosterone decline is one of the major factors that reduce quality of life. In patients and the physicians treating them, decreased energy levels and impairments to sex-life are perceived as the most important effects of hypogonadism. Two quality of life scales, the Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) and the Age-Related Hormone Deficiency-Dependent Quality of Life (A-RHDQoL) scales, have recently been developed to specifically assess this patient population, and the A-RHDQoL found that memory, energy and physical capabilities, and sex-life were the factors most adversely affected by low testosterone levels. Unfortunately, there are limited data on the effects of testosterone on the quality of life of men with hypogonadism, but the information that exists suggests that testosterone can improve the quality of life significantly (to the same level as men with normal testosterone levels) and the more severe the symptoms before treatment, the greater the benefits of testosterone replacement. These promising early results need to be confirmed in more detailed quality of life studies.