FAQs - The Hormone Foundation's Patient Guides

The Hormone Foundation's patient guides are based on clinical guidelines that were written by The Endocrine Society to assist physicians who are evaluating and treating patients with a variety of hormone-related conditions. Each clinical guideline summarizes information about the best way to diagnose a particular condition, how physicians will begin care and follow-up with patients who have been diagnosed with a condition, and the potential benefits of treatment. In turn, the patient guides provide information for patients to help them work with their physicians to improve the outcome of their treatment.

The clinical guidelines were developed after an extensive review of the best clinical (human) research studies related to the therapeutic use hormone therapy. An expert panel of The Endocrine Society examined evidence from studies that were published in "peer-reviewed" medical journals (i.e., studies that were carefully evaluated by expert scientists and journal editors). The panel rated the quality of the studies and gave the highest quality rating to studies that were randomized and placebo controlled. This means that the people in the study were assigned into groups at random (by chance). One group took hormone therapy and the other took a placebo (a similar preparation that did not contain testosterone). This approach allows physicians to learn whether testosterone is more effective than no treatment at all.

The panel developed "recommendations" based on high-quality studies or "suggestions" based on studies that were less rigorously planned or carried out. Once the panel reached an agreement about their "recommendations" and "suggestions," the guidelines were reviewed and approved by several committees and the general membership of The Endocrine Society. No funding for the clinical guidelines came from any pharmaceutical company.

For more information about the clinical guidelines, visit The Endocrine Society.