Clinical diagnosis and treatment of late-onset hypogonadism

Huh, Jung-Sik; Kim, Young-Joo; Kim, Sung Dae

doi:2012.9.2.117

J Med Life Sci > Volume 9(2); 2012 > Article

Journal of Medicine and Life Science 2012;9(2):117-122.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22730/jmls.2012.9.2.117 Published online December 18, 2012.

남성갱년기증후군에 대한 임상적 진단과 치료

허정식, 김영주, 김성대

제주대학교 의학전문대학원 비뇨기과학교실

Clinical diagnosis and treatment of late-onset hypogonadism

Jung-Sik Huh, Young-Joo Kim, Sung Dae Kim

Department of Urology, Jeju National University Graduate School of Medicine, Jeju, Korea

Correspondence: Sung Dae Kim, Email: mecksd@jejunu.ac.kr

Received: 7 December 2012 • Revised: 14 December 2012 • Accepted: 21 December 2012

Abstract

Testosterone is the principal androgen in the human male. The decline of testosterone with aging was recognized to be associated with a number of symptoms and signs that reduce the quality of life and that may even have severe, debilitating consequences. So testosterone deficiency in the aging male has become a topic of increasing interest and debate throughout the world. Clinically, late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) is diagnosed by the presence of symptoms or signs and persistent low serum testosterone levels. The benefits and risks of testosterone therapy must be clearly discussed with the patient and assessment of prostate and other risk factors considered before commencing testosterone treatment. Response to testosterone treatment should be assessed. It there is no improvement of symptoms and signs, treatment should be withdrawn and the patient investigated for other possible causes of the clinical presentations. Overall, the problem of LOH in debilitating the quality of life and well-being is real, and by following proper guidelines with attentiveness to the results of treatment trials, testosterone replacement therapy presents a safe and effective treatment option.

Key Words: late-onset; hypogonadism; diagnosis; treatment