Androgens - Use
Sexual therapeutic uses
Testosterone (Delatestril*,Androgel*, Testim*) and dihydrotestosterone are used for the treatment of the androgenic deficiencies: peripubertal hypogonadisms of testicular or pituitary origin, hypogonadism of the adult and oligospermia. In this last case, they are used either with moderated doses, or in large doses which, after an inhibition of spermatogenesis, induce an increase in the number of spermatozoa over the initial number. They were also used to improve erectile function.
In women, testosterone has very few therapeutic uses, it was used in the treatment of estrogene-dependant breast cancer. However testosterone administration in low doses to postmenopausal women can have favourable effects on their sexuality.
Fluoxymesterone is a synthetic androgen used not for substitute treatment of a true androgenic deficiency but as an anabolic steroid in the event of medullary aplasia or of oligospermia of badly definite etiology.
Anabolic and hematopoietic therapeutic uses
There are a lot of anabolic steroids but now only a few are marketed. Anabolic agents were used for the treatment of denutrition, cachexia, osteoporosis, asthenia. They can induce an increase of weight, of appetite and sometimes a feeling of wellbeing but generally their results are small or transient because they do not cure the causes of the diseases.
Anabolic steroids are sometimes used for stimulating erythropoiesis in patients with different types of anemia but now erythropoietin is used for this purpose.
Non-medical use of anabolic steroids at very high dose and generally by intramuscular route for inducing muscular development in order to improve sporting performances or to model body-builders silhouette, induces various hormonal disorders, in particular in women, and are hepatotoxic.
Particular therapeutic uses
Danazol is a derivative of ethisterone having androgen, anabolic and an inhibitory effect on gonadotropin release. It has not estrogen or progestogen effects. It has particular therapeutic uses such as treatment of endometriosis and of hereditary angioneurotic edema
Contraindications
Androgens and steroid anabolic agents are contra-indicated in children and in pregnant women. Their prescription to women gives signs of masculinization. In men, they are contra-indicated in patients with prostate cancer.
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