Transdermal androgens: pharmacology and applicability to hypogonadal elderly men.

Transdermal testosterone (T) gels have proven to be an efficacious means of delivering T to hypogonadal men. Patches, gels and creams have been used in T transdermal formulations. Patches suffered from problems either with adherence or skin irritability while gels have a potential problem of transferability from patients to partner or other family member. At present, gels have been well received by clinicians and users. There is no evidence that transdermal preparations are not suitable for treatment of older hypogonadal men; the rapid off time of both patches and gels may argue allow that transdermal preparations may be a preferential treatment modality for older men with a potential higher risk of developing androgen-responsive prostate cancer.