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Urologic Endocrinology

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Urologic Principles and Practice

Part of the book series: Springer Specialist Surgery Series ((SPECIALIST))

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Abstract

Gonadal function in men decreases with age. Serum testosterone (T) levels begin declining from the fifth decade of life from defects in both testicular and hypothalamic-pituitary function and a high percentage of men older than 60 years have such concentrations below the lower limit of normal for a young adult male. This clinical situation is known as andropause or late-onset hypogonadism (LOH). On the other hand, as it occurs in middle-age men, classical hypogonadism, both primary (hypergonadotropic hypogonadism due to testicular failure) and secondary (normo- or hypogonadotropic hypogonadism due to hypothalamic or pituitary insufficiency) can develop in the elderly. There are also several clinical situations of reversible hypogonadism and multiple risk factors for developing hypogonadism in aged men. Clinical benefits of hormone replacement therapy with T in aged men with classical hypogonadism are well established; however, long-term benefits and risks of T therapy in aged males with LOH are under study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, AOU Federico II, Naples, Italy

    V. Mirone & R. La Rocca

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  1. V. Mirone
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  2. R. La Rocca
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Correspondence to V. Mirone .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation, Sheffield, UK

    Christopher R. Chapple

  2. Department of Urology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    William D. Steers

  3. Department of Urologic Surgery, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA

    Christopher P. Evans

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Mirone, V., La Rocca, R. (2020). Urologic Endocrinology. In: Chapple, C., Steers, W., Evans, C. (eds) Urologic Principles and Practice. Springer Specialist Surgery Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28599-9_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28599-9_9

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-28598-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-28599-9

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