ANDROPAUSE AND THE AGING MALE

For many years andropause has been compared to female climaterium. Dat a show that symptoms are more an identification process with the clima teric partner. Sexual function decreases with age but hormonal changes are not the major determining factor in this decline. There is histol ogical evidence of an aging testicle, with reduced number of Leydig an d Sertoli cells. Testosterone also declines, about a third, as do dehy droepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, prolactin, growth hormone, and insulin growth factor-1. There is no change in dehydrotes tosterone and estrogens and there is an increase in follicle stimulati ng and luteinizing hormones levels. Recent data cannot recommend the u se of hormone replacement therapy with androgens because of potential severe side effects and lack of data on long-term effects.