Late-onset hypogonadism in men. Experience from the Turku Male Ageing Study (TuMAS).

Interest has arisen during the last 10 years as to the possible connection between the age-related decline in androgen production and symptoms of ageing in men. A new ageing-related syndrome with several descriptive names, such as andropause, male menopause, Partial Androgen Deficiency of the Ageing Male (PADAM) and Late-Onset Hypogonadism (LOH), has been identified. Intensive research into the subject is currently ongoing in multiple, population-based epidemiological studies to explore the connections between testicular endocrine function and the physical, psychic and sexual symptoms of ageing. One of these studies is the Turku Male Ageing Study (TuMAS), conducted in Turku, Finland. This review summarises the recent key findings in this study, with special reference to the correlation of androgen levels with sexual symptoms and cardiovascular risk factors.