New study of testosterone deficiency

A collaboration between men's health specialists and pathologists aims to create a precision reference kit to diagnose testosterone deficiency in men.

While deficiencies can be detected through a number of available assays, the Australian test would be the first to accurately determine whether or not testosterone therapy would be of benefit to a patient.

The collaboration, coordinated by the Federally-funded Andrology Australia, brings together Melbourne's Prince Henry's Institute, Sydney's ANZAC Research Institute, the Royal College of Pathologists Australasia (RCPA) and the Australasian Association of Clinical Biochemists (AACB).

Prince Henry's Assoc Prof Rob McLachlan said it was hoped the reference kit would be in use by the end of the year.

"This will tell doctors what the threshold for testosterone deficiency is so they can put a hand on their heart and say that if they give a person treatment for the deficiency, there will be a tangible benefit," McLachlan said.

"It will help set the ground rules on how to make that judgement."

Natural testosterone levels generally decrease with age, with suggestions that one in five men over the age of 70 will suffer a deficiency in the hormone.

The condition can also affect younger men, although the figure for males under 40 years is about one in 200.

Testosterone deficiency can cause such symptoms as tiredness, decreased muscle mass, reduced strength and lowered sex drive.

McLachlan said that while hormone replacement was effective, it was also a life-long treatment and so it needed to be prescribed with a high degree of certainty.

About 150 healthy and fit men aged 21 to 35 are needed for the study and will be asked to donate blood and semen and to undergo a physical examination.

The study will examine testosterone and other male hormone levels present in healthy young men to help create the normality benchmark.

Once collected, the samples will be sent to the RCPA and AACB who will make up the kits and distribute them to laboratories across the country.

"This is the first national collaborative effort to improve diagnosis of male sex hormone levels, which will pave the way for better understanding and delivery of health care services for men in Australia," McLachlan said.

The study is calling for volunteers of fit and healthy men aged 21-35. Interested parties can call: NSW: 02 9767 7222 VIC: 03 9594 3556