Topical Testosterone Gel for the Treatment of Male Hypogonadism

Objective: This review describes the current knowledge of biological external testosterone (T) application using dermal products for the treatment of late-onset male hypogonadism (LOH). Methods: An English language search of medical literature using Pubmed was conducted between January of 1984 and March of 2012 using the search term 'testosterone gel'. Special emphasis was given to clinical controlled trials and large case studies. Results: We describe the current knowledge on testosterone replacement therapy using gel applications. A reference search revealed 1567 publications; 44 were clinical studies in human patients with male hypogonadism, 80 were reviews, 27 were case reports, and 9 were retrospective studies. Data from the literature and from 20 clinical studies involving human patients were analyzed since they met the inclusion criteria of testosterone gel administration in hypogonadal males. For the purpose of this review, a total number of 2,378 human patients were studied. Overall, biological T administration resulted in improvement of sexual dysfunction and symptoms of metabolic syndrome and represented an effective and safe treatment option for hypogonadal men. Conclusions: Administration of biological T gel appears to represent a valid alternative treatment option for male hypogonadism with a favorite efficacy and safety profile.