CORRECTION OF ANDROGEN DEFICIENCY IN MEN WITH HYPOTHYROIDISM

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Andrology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Increasing prevalence of low testosterone levels in aging men.
• Androgen deficiency is a common comorbidity in patients with hypothyroidism.
• Testosterone undecanoate (TU) offers a long-acting injectable option with a favorable safety profile.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of testosterone undecanoate therapy in men with hypothyroidism and co-existing androgen deficiency.
• To assess the impact of TU on serum total testosterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 26 men with hypothyroidism receiving four intramuscular injections of testosterone undecanoate (1000 mg).
• Injections were administered at specific intervals: 6 weeks between the first two, followed by 12-week intervals.
• Serum total testosterone and LH levels were monitored after the second, third, and fourth injections.

Main Results:

• Patients exhibited significantly lower baseline total testosterone levels compared to a control group.
• Testosterone undecanoate therapy led to the stabilization of total testosterone levels within the reference range after nine months.
• No significant differences in luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were observed between the treatment and control groups.

Conclusions:

• Long-acting injectable testosterone undecanoate effectively normalizes total testosterone levels in men with hypothyroidism and androgen deficiency.
• The treatment achieves stable testosterone levels without causing supraphysiological spikes.
• TU represents a viable therapeutic option for managing androgen deficiency in hypothyroid patients.