Androgens, health and sexuality in women and men

Abstract

The importance of good sexual function for individuals, patients and their general health and well-being is well recognised. Testosterone is contributory to a healthy sexual life for both women and men. The British Society for Sexual Medicine (BSSM) has initiated and led the development of guidelines for the assessment and use of testosterone deficiency in both women and men for use within the UK and beyond. Clinical awareness of the possibility of testosterone deficiency and the impact this may have on an individual's sexual and somatic function and the need to make sufficient enquiry about the sex life of patients attending a broad clinical spectrum is emphasised. The management of testosterone deficiency is outlined in detail for both women and men.

Keywords:

• Androgens
• testosterone
• desire disorder
• sexuality
• fertility
• well-being

Acknowledgements

Much of the text within the section on men is reproduced from the guidance issued by the International Society for the Study of the Aging Male (ISSAM) (Wang et al., 2009), with kind permission from Professor Bruno Lunenfeld and The Aging Male. The BSSM received educational grants from Bayer, Proctor & Gamble and Prostrakan to facilitate the establishment of a committee developing these guidelines but had no influence on the material contained within them.