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CURRENT RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE USE OF ANDROGENS
IN THE ANDROPAUSE
Professor Bruno Lunenfeld,
Faculty of Life Sciences,
Bar - Ilan University Ramat
Gan 52900 Israel
The field of hormonal alterations in the aging male is attracting increasing
interest in the medical community and the public
at large. Simultaneously, industry has realized
the growing importance and enormous potential of
the impact of a rapidly mounting population of males
over the age of 50 years which will be positioned
for special health needs in the first quarter of
this century and probably beyond. Among these needs
hormone replacement therapy (HRT) rates high, as
it has for post-menopausal women over the last 25
years.
It is fully recognized that the endocrinological changes associated with
male aging are not limited to sex hormones. On the
contrary, profound changes occur in other hormones
such as growth hormone, melatonin and thyroxin.
However, late-onset hypogonadism or
androgen decline in the aging male (ADAM)* also
widely known as andropause is a fast developing
field. The understanding of ADAM among large
sections of the medical profession dealing with
mature men (i.e. primary care, internists, urologists,
etc.) has not kept pace with the developments in
the field. A great deal of confusion and misunderstandings
surrounding diagnosis, treatment and monitoring
of late-onset hypogonadism exist.
Therefore, the ISSAM (International Society for the Study of the Aging
Male)–in fulfilling its mandate- considered
that this was an opportune time to provide factual
information on the various clinical aspects of the
andropause in the form a set of practical recommendations
dealing exclusively with ADAM and androgen replacement
therapy (ART). Opinions on the need for and effects
of hormone replacement in aging change frequently
and long held views are now being vigorously challenged.
The material in this recommendations which will be discussed in
detail, represents recent information on the andropause;
however, it may require frequent updates as new
and relevant data becomes available
Bruno Lunenfeld, M.D.,FRCOG.,FACOG
(hon.) P.O.G.S.(hon.)
Faculty of Life Sciences,
Bar - Ilan University Ramat
Gan 52900 Israel
Born in Vienna (Austria) in 1927, he received his education in Austria,
United Kingdom, and Israel. He Graduated from the
medical School in Geneva Switzerland.
Following his post graduate work in Geneva he joined the Weizman
Institute as senior Scientist till 1961, and
then headed the WHO International Reference Center
for Fertility Promoting Drugs from 1959-1992 and
the Institute of Endocrinology at the Sheba
Medical center from 1961- 1992.
He acted as a Consultant and member of Expert Committees at the World
Health Organization from 1967 to 1992. From
1967- 1995 he was Professor of endocrinology
at Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics,
Department of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University.
From 1975-1983 he was president of the Israel
Fertility Society, 1990 –1995 he was
Vice-President and Member of the Executive
Board of the Scientific Council, Israel Medical
Association , He was a founding member of the Israel
Endocrine Society and its president between
1992 and 1995 .
Since 1995 he is Professor Emeritus at Faculty of Life Sciences
Bar-Ilan University. He was instrumental in
the study of the aging male, was the
founder of the International Society for the
Study of the Aging Male (ISSAM),, and its president.
He is editor of the Journal ‘The Aging
Male’. He Organized (in collaboration with
the World Health Organization) and chaired the first,
second and third world Congress of the aging
male in Geneva February 1998, and 2000 and
in Berlin, 2002. He will also chair the fourth world
Congress of the aging male in Prague 26-29th
February 2004.
In 1983 he received the special recognition award
of the United States Public Health Service”
in recognition of his outstanding contribution in
the promotion of health. In 1995 he received “The
Verdienstkreuz 1. Klasse” (“Order of Distinction”)
signed by the President of Germany, Roman Herzog.
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