Application of Transdermal Testosterone in Treatment of Male Hypogonadism

Testosterone is one of the most important male steroid hormones that plays a key role in the development of male reproductive tissues. The secretion of this hormone decreases rapidly after age 50. Hypogonadism in men is a clinical syndrome that is caused by a defect in the production of testosterone, sperm, or both. Several alternative therapies are approved and prescribed according to their efficacy, patient's priorities, and costs. One of these treatments is the transdermal administration of testosterone. In this route, the drug is introduced through attached patch with a drug reservoir, through a permeable membrane, or applied directly on the skin in the form of a gel or lotion. In different countries, testosterone therapy by transdermal administration is rising progressively. Transdermal testosterone delivery by gels or lotions is the preferred method of some men. The pricing level of these transdermal preparations is generally higher than commonly available short-acting injectables, but these user friendly methods are still preferred by many patients. In this study, different types of transdermal preparations, mainly patch, gel, and lotion, as well as a brief overview of buccal and intranasal methods are discussed in details