Unfortunately, these preparations have the potential for serious liver damage. They were popular at a time before we had injections with vasoactive drugs or vacuum erection devices, and before penile implants became more widely used. The oral androgen preparations, the methyl testosterone products, have been available since the 1970s and have been popular. The current methods of androgen replacement available for human use include oral preparations (17 alpha-alkylated derivatives), the injectable long-acting esters of testosterone (enanthate and cypionate), and the transdermal preparations (Testoderm and Androderm). estosterone replacement is currently used today in both primary and secondary hypogonadism (decreased testicular production of testosterone). Sometimes it does take several months to see a return of the prolactin level to normal and a return of the testosterone level back up to normal levels, as well.

All patients with an elevated prolactin level should be referred to an endocrinologist, who will further evaluate the patient to establish the presence or absence of a prolactin-secreting, benign tumor in the pituitary gland. It's important to understand that a large number of chronic illnesses and medications can contribute to elevated blood prolactin levels. Men with significantly depressed serum testosterone levels should have a serum prolactin measurement. Serum prolactin levels need not be measured in every patient with erectile dysfunction, but it certainly should in those with decreased libido. Elevated prolactin causes both a significant decrease in libido, as well as a decrease in serum testosterone levels. Hyperprolactinemia (elevated blood levels of prolactin) is another common endocrine cause of erectile dysfunction.