Management of Androgen Decline in Aging Men

In both the scientific literature and lay press, new attentions recently have been focusing on low testosterone states in the aging male. This syndrome has been referred to as andropause, androgen deficiency in the aging male (ADAM), partial androgen deficiency in the aging male (PADAM), male climacteric, relative hypogonadism and hypoandrogenemia. There is neither agreement on the syndrome’s nomenclature nor consensus on its diagnosis. Although this evolving area of research is producing evidence for the validity of the syndrome and the benefits of its treatment, there are still many unanswered questions and controversies. This article reviews the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of androgen deficiency. For simplicity, this syndrome will be referred to as andropause throughout this review.