Androgen in men

Bagatell C J, Bremner W J 1996 Androgens in men — uses and abuses. New England Journal of Medicine 334 707-714,1415... 

WHO (1992). Guidelines for the Use of Androgens in Men (WHO/HPR/MALE/92), Geneva, Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction. 

Organic molecules thus far identified, such as those fisted above, appear either to have irreversible antifertifity effects, to be inherently toxic, or to affect libido. It has been demonstrated that sperm count could be depressed in men injected with large doses of androgens. However, questions about the potential utility of androgens as male antifertifity agents are stiU debated. 

In men, administration of an androgen may result in breast enlargement (gynecomastia), testicular atrophy, inhibition of testicular function, impotence, enlargement of the penis, nausea, jaundice, headache, anxiety, male pattern baldness, acne, and depression. Fluid and electrolyte imbalances, which include sodium, water, chloride, potassium, calcium, and phosphate retention, may also be seen. 

In support of a role for androgens in sexual behavior is the finding that sexual interest or motivation is low in prepubertal boys and in men with various forms of hypogonadism (Burris, et al., 1992). Androgen treatments are typically associated with increased interest in sexual activities, as measured by self-report, as well as increases in nocturnal erections. However, increases in sexual behavior as a result of androgen treatments are less reliable, probably in part because men with a history of sexual inactivity may lack social skills or opportunities for sexual behavior. Social and historical variables, possibly also experienced as changes in other hormones, are critical determinants of masculine sexuality. 

In males the androgens arise predominantly from the testes which are said to vary from 10 to 45 gm. in weight.2 Actually eunuchoid individuals may have testes weighing as little as 1 or even 1/2 gm. for the pair. In this case as well as many others the dividing line between normal and abnormal is difficult to draw. No dependable data are available as to the inter-individual ranges of concentration of androgens in human blood. Urinary excretion has been studied, however, and ranges for normal men have been reported up to 11-fold, i.e., 20... 

Testosterone is the most important of the male sexual steroids (androgens), it is synthesized in the Leydig intersitial cells of the testes, and controls the development and functioning of the male gonads, it also determines secondary sexual characteristics in men (muscles, hair, etc.). 

Androgenic steroids are used in medicine for replacement therapy in men with insufficient function of the male sex glands, for maturation arrest, impotency, climacteric, and other irregularities, and in women for breast and ovarian cancer and climacteric disorders. Like all steroid drugs, androgens are functionalized derivatives of cyclopentanophenan-threne. 

Cyproterone is used to control sexual attraction in men in cases of sexual deviations, as well as for inoperable prostate gland carcinoma. In women, it is used for severe cases of androgenization, and in children with idiopathic premature sexual maturity. Synonyms of this drug are cyprostat, androcur, daian, and others. 

Estrogens, estrone (28.1.9), estradiol (28.1.17), ethynylestradiol (28.1.26), diethylstilbe-strol (28.1.33), and chlorotrianisene (30.5.2), are used for palliative treatment of postmenopausal breast cancer, prostate cancer, and breast cancer in men. It is highly probable that the mechanism of action is similar to the mechanism of action of androgens. 

V.b.1.1. Androgen replacement therapy. Although serum testosterone in men may decline with... 

Anawalt BD. T in cheek buccal testosterone as a new treatment for androgen deficiency in men. In US endocrine disease 2006. Available from URL http // www.touchbriefings.com/cdps/cditem.cfm NID=1815 [cited 2008 Jan 05]. 

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