Is Testosterone Replacement Therapy Effective and Safe Even for Eugonadal Men With Symptoms of Late-Onset Hypogonadism?

Testosterone replacement treatment had an overall efficacy rate of 65.1% in eugonadal men with symptoms of late-onset hypogonadism.

• 565 eugonadal men with symptoms of late-onset hypogonadism were included in the study.
• Efficacy was assessed by patient satisfaction following intramuscular injection of 250 mg of testosterone esters.
• The overall efficacy rate across all symptom domains was 65.1%.

Testosterone replacement treatment was effective across mental, physical, and sexual dysfunction symptom domains at differing rates.

• Treatment was effective in 131 of 216 patients (60.6%) with mental dysfunction.
• Treatment was effective in 111 of 163 patients (68.1%) with physical dysfunction.
• Treatment was effective in 126 of 186 patients (67.7%) with sexual dysfunction.

No side effects were observed after testosterone replacement treatment in eugonadal men.

• The study population consisted of 565 eugonadal men.
• Safety was evaluated alongside physical factors, laboratory and endocrinologic variables, and questionnaire scores.
• The absence of side effects supports the safety profile of TRT even in eugonadal patients.

The total score of the Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) rating scale was the only independent factor identified as predictive of patient satisfaction with testosterone replacement treatment.

• Physical factors, laboratory variables, endocrinologic variables, and multiple questionnaire scores were evaluated as potential predictive factors.
• Multivariate analysis identified only the total AMS score as an independent predictive factor.
• No other clinical or laboratory variables were identified as significant independent predictors of efficacy.

This study is reported as the first to evaluate efficacy and safety of testosterone replacement treatment specifically in eugonadal men with symptoms of late-onset hypogonadism.

• Prior studies have focused on hypogonadal men (those with low serum testosterone levels) as candidates for TRT.
• The authors state: 'This study is the first, to our knowledge, to report the efficacy and safety of testosterone replacement treatment for eugonadal men with symptoms of late-onset hypogonadism.'
• Treatment was administered as intramuscular injection of 250 mg of testosterone esters.