Androgen Replacement Therapy

Androgen replacement therapy, also known as testosterone replacement therapy, is a form of hormone therapy in which androgens, most often testosterone, are supplemented or replaced, typically administered through injections, skin creams, patches, gels, pills, or subcutaneous pellets. It is often prescribed to counter the effects of male hypogonadism, and is also used, more controversially, to lessen or delay effects of normal male aging such as fewer erections, fatigue, thinning skin, and declining muscle mass and strength. Androgen deficiency in women has, since 2001, also been recognized as a treatable medical disorder, with the therapy shown to help with symptoms of menopause; testosterone has anabolic effects on muscle and bone, stimulates red blood cell production, and can improve penile blood flow and sexual desire.