[Aging male symptoms and serum testosterone levels in healthy Japanese middle-aged men].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the usefulness of the ADAM questionnaire and aging males' symptoms' (AMS) rating scale for Japanese middle-aged men, we analyzed the results of these tests. We also examined the range of serum testosterone levels of these individuals.

MATERIAL & METHODS: Answers to these tests were obtained from 187 healthy Japanese men (from 46 to 64 years old) who visited for medical check-up. Serum total (TT) and free (FT) testosterone were also examined, and calculated free (cFT) and bioavalable (cBT) testosterone levels were obtained.

RESULT

According to the ADAM questionnaire, 140 (77.8%) men were judged to be PADAM. Mean AMS total, psychological, somatovegetative, and sexual symptom scores were 29.4, 7.5, 12.9, and 9.0, respectively. Although 32 (17.5%) men had more than moderate symptoms on AMS total score, 119 (65.0%) men complained of more than moderate sexual symptoms. In contrast, the testosterone levels of these people were not always low. Mean values of TT, FT, cFT, and cBT were 5.50 ng/ml, 14.7 pg/ml, 116.1 pg/ml, and 292.3 ng/dl, respectively. None of these testosterone levels was significantly correlated with age or AMS score. Only sexual symptom score among AMS subscales was significantly correlated with age.

CONCLUSION

The borderlines for the ADAM questionnaire and AMS rating scale appear too stringent for healthy Japanese middle-aged men. The sexual activity of Japanese middle-aged men appears less than that of Westerners. Criteria of these tests in Japanese middle-aged men, especially sexual function, should be changed.