ANDROGEN REPLACEMENT
Both men and women produce androgenic hormones (typically called male sex hormones) which help to regulate critical reproductive processes involved in sperm production, egg development, sexual desire and sexual performance. Women produce androgenic hormones from their ovaries and adrenal glands during reproductive years and continue producing much smaller amounts from the ovaries after the menopause. Men produce androgenic hormones from the testes and adrenal glands throughout life. Problems that interfere with these functions can profoundly impact on fertility and sexuality.
Problems caused by lack of androgens:
Androgens are not just crucial for egg and sperm production but for sexual functioning as well, and their deficiency can interfere with all of those processes. Lack of androgen production can result in:
- Deficient sperm formation (and sometimes even complete absence of sperm) leading to infertility.
- Poor egg development resulting in deficient or no ovulation (lack of egg release); also resulting in infertility.
- Disorders of sexual desire (poor libido, lack of sexual arousal, lack of orgasm).
- Disorders of sexual performance (mainly impotence).
What causes lack of androgens?
Androgen deficiency can be caused by inherited and acquired factors. It is important that the cause of the problem is fully understood before treatment can be advised. These causes typically include:
- Inherited conditions: genetic abnormalities in males and females; abnormal formation of the ovaries/testes.
- Acquired hormonal conditions: ovarian demise (failure), menopause, testicular demise (failure).
- Acquired non-hormonal conditions: certain drugs, chronic illness, metabolic syndrome, obesity.
How can Aurora help?
Aurora has Specialist Andrologists who offer robust investigations to determine the cause of androgen insufficiency and formulate treatment plans that typically include removal of the problematic factors as well as androgen replacement therapy (where indicated). Androgen replacement therapy can help to promote wellbeing in both men and women as well as to augment egg/sperm quality and enhance sexual functioning.
