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Androgen Therapy

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Male Osteoporosis

Part of the book series: Trends in Andrology and Sexual Medicine ((TASM))

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Abstract

Male osteoporosis is a health problem of multifactorial origin. Bone mineral density evaluation by X-ray densitometry allows diagnosis, while stratification of risk fracture is usually done through useful diagnostic tools, i.e., FRAXc. Observational studies demonstrate that sex hormones are important regulators of bone turnover in men. Serum estradiol levels are consistent predictors of bone turnover in men. Although correlation data do not prove causality, interventional studies underline that estradiol appears to be the dominant sex hormone regulating bone resorption, while both testosterone and estradiol may be important in maintaining bone formation in male population. It remains to be elucidated to what extent sex hormones and, more specifically, inadequate testosterone levels, i.e., late-onset hypogonadism, may contribute to increased risk of osteoporotic fractures. Measurements of serum testosterone levels are routinely indicated to exclude secondary causes of male osteoporosis and to designate appropriately all candidates for testosterone treatment. The association with other anti-resorption drugs is somehow indicated in association with testosterone treatment in all cases of severe fracture risk.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy

    Antonio Aversa & Alessandro Ilacqua

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  1. Antonio Aversa
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  2. Alessandro Ilacqua
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Correspondence to Antonio Aversa .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy

    Alberto Ferlin

  2. Department of Movement Human and Health Sciences, Foro Italico University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Silvia Migliaccio

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Aversa, A., Ilacqua, A. (2020). Androgen Therapy. In: Ferlin, A., Migliaccio, S. (eds) Male Osteoporosis. Trends in Andrology and Sexual Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96376-1_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96376-1_16

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-96375-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-96376-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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