As technology advances and our understanding of health holistically increases, we are becoming more aware of and concerned about male hormones in respect to aging. In some, hormone levels are seen to drop as much as 15-20% from baseline. In addition to aging, other factors, such as diabetes, obesity, genetics syndromes, smoking and alcoholism also can cause male hormones to drop.

Testosterone, the main anabolic androgen (male hormone) in circulation, is responsible for the development and maintenance of male sexual characteristics, muscle and bone strength, vigor and energy. As such, patient interest in testosterone treatment is common.

The purpose of androgen replacement therapy is to reproduce physiological actions of endogenous (naturally occurring) testosterone, with the aim of restoring libido, sexual function and well-being. This replacement therapy must be efficient, safe, and affordable.

Before testosterone therapy can be considered, the need, safety, and efficacy of administration must be considered. The clinical decision including how to interpret test results, differential diagnosis, potential impact of testosterone treatment on carbohydrates metabolism and cardiovascular disease, must be evaluated and discussed to ensure the benefits outweigh the risks.

If testosterone replacement is agreed upon, preparations commonly used are:

• Injectable: formulas are made from an oily base, thus allowing a slow release of testosterone, and an ester base, which allows the rapid release of free testosterone into the circulation.
• Testosterone gel – An efficient option, but has the risk of transferring androgen to patient partners. This form reproduces daytime physiological variations of testosterone seen normally.
• Androgens administered parenterally (by mouth) but do not show normal circadian daily patterns of serum testosterone.

In conclusion, there are many factors, including other health conditions, that must be considered before testosterone therapy can be determined to be safe and effective. At GluCare, we have developed a unique clinical setting to manage a range of endocrine disorders. The availability of our on-site endocrine laboratory and pharmacy allows for a much better in-clinic experience. Out of clinic, we use Digital Therapeutics (DTx) to assists the care team in monitoring the effectiveness of hormone replacement therapy and allows GluCare to communicate with patients regularly so that they are empowered to understand more about their therapy.