Testosterone Deficiency Syndrome: an overview with emphasis on the diagnostic conundrum

To review the controversial issues of the Testosterone Deficiency Syndrome (TDS) with an emphasis on the concerns about the diagnosis.

The relevant literature was reviewed with particular attention to matters related to the clinical manifestations of the syndrome, the need for biochemical assessment and questions of biological and analytical variation that have to be taken into account. Therapeutic options were also appraised.

There are numerous difficulties with the clinical diagnosis of TDS due to the lack of specificity and subtlety of the manifestations when the degree of deficiency is not severe. Confirmation of the clinical impression requires laboratory evaluation but the choice of assays remains an unsettled issue although there is a general consensus that both free testosterone and bioavailable testosterone best reflect the degree of androgenicity. The laboratory diagnosis enjoys a great deal of credibility among clinicians but shortcomings in the interpretation of the assays need to be reiterated and the need for close collaboration between the clinician and the clinical biochemist is important for diagnostic accuracy. Even when the clinical picture is convincing, the laboratory may produce inconclusive results. The option of a therapeutic trial should be contemplated in this situation. Treatment options should be decided between the physician and the patient considering issues of availability, tolerance, efficacy and cost.

TDS is a prevalent condition but a matter of persistent controversy due to the vagaries of the clinical and laboratory diagnosis. Symptomatic men with documented T deficiency deserve treatment to improve their quality of life.