The Role of Androgens in Menopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy

Abstract

The role of androgens in menopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is an area of great controversy. Clinicians range in opinion from those who believe adding androgens is a dangerous and regrettable practice to those who believe that androgenic input is key in maintaining premenopausal energy levels, cognitive function, and libido. The debate is often passionate and dominated by anecdotes rather than a cogent mastery of the available literature. We attempt here to briefly review the available data and formulate practical recommendations.