Testosterone Gel Applied to Women With Pituitary Gland Problems

Exclusion Criteria

• •Physical disabilities that would prevent them from participating in the study.
• •Current use of testosterone or other androgenic steroids. Patients who are taking testosterone, DHEA or other androgen precursors will discontinue these medications/supplements three months prior to the study.
• •Significant cardiopulmonary disease (prior myocardial infarction causing ventricular dysfunction, angina, arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, valvular problem), venous thrombotic event (pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis), renal disease (creatinine greater than 1.5 mg/dL), diabetes mellitus on insulin, uncontrolled hypertension, malignancy (other than basal cell skin carcinoma) or major psychiatric disease. Patients with depression or anxiety on a stable dose of medication will be allowed to enroll.
• •Current abuse of illicit drugs or heavy ethanol use.
• •History of breast cancer or abnormal mammogram at entry. If patients with an abnormal mammogram or PAP smear are appropriately evaluated and found not to have cancer, they will be allowed to participate in the study.
• •Those with significant liver function abnormalities defined as SGOT, SGPT or alkaline phosphatase value of greater than one and one-half the upper limit of normal in our Clinical Pathology Laboratory or serum bilirubin levels of greater than 2 mg/dL will be excluded.
• •Those with history of hyperandrogenic disorders such as hirsutism and polycystic ovary disease will be excluded. These conditions are rare in women with hypopituitarism. Testosterone administration to these patients may exacerbate the underlying disorder.
• •Women who are pregnant, seeking to become pregnant in the next 6 months, or breast-feeding.
• •Those who have previously experienced intolerance to other transdermal systems or gels
• •Drugs known to alter testosterone production such as megace or ketoconazole.
• •Patients with untreated hyperprolactinemia or active Cushing's disease. Patients with treated prolactinoma or Cushing's disease will be allowed to participate in the study.
• •Hematocrit of greater than 50%
• •Male sex
• •Not willing to answer all questions on surveys
• •EKG showing ischemia or prior myocardial infarction
• •Patients with extensive brain surgery, severe head injury, brain tumors or other conditions that profoundly affect CNS function.
• •Patients not willing to be placed on a standardized hormonal replacement regimen including transdermal estrogen and growth hormone.