Draft of Russian Clinical Practice Guidelines «Male hypogonadism»

Abstract

Hypogonadism in males, defined as a decrease in serum testosterone levels in combination with characteristic symptoms and/or signs, can be observed with pathological changes in the testicles and/or pituitary gland, such as Klinefelter’s syndrome, Kallman’s syndrome, as well as in men with metabolic (obesity, diabetes mellitus) or iatrogenic disorders leading to a decrease in androgen production. The draft guidelines cover the extensive range of pathologies that cause hypogonadism development (testosterone deficiency) and focus on its clinical variants, which make up the majority of cases of hypogonadism observed in men. The authors and reviewers are an interdisciplinary group of experts, consisting of endocrinologists, andrologists, urologists - members of the «Russian Association of Endocrinologists» and «Men’s and Reproductive Health» public organizations.Clinical guidelines contain the most reliable evidence available to experts at the time of writing. Nevertheless, recommendations cannot replace clinical experience, and deciding on the start of treatment, choosing a method of therapy, or a drug should always consider the individual characteristics of a specific patient.