Hypogonadism & infertility – male

ADULT
  • If any of the following are present or suspected, please refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or follow local emergency care protocols or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region.

    • No emergency indicators identified; routine prioritisation applies
    • Refer to local HealthPathways or local guidelines
    • Low testosterone levels can be associated with obesity, sleep apnoea, opiates , alcohol and depression. Addressing the underlying issue may normalise testosterone levels and in many cases testosterone therapy is not appropriate
Minimum Referral Criteria
Category 1
(appointment within 30 calendar days)
  • Arrested puberty (16 years and over)
  • Suspected hypopituitarism
Category 2
(appointment within 90 calendar days)
  • Delayed puberty (16 years and over)
  • Male infertility
  • Confirmed hypogonadism with two morning testosterone levels under 6 nmol/L
  • Azoospermia or severe oligospermia
Category 3
(appointment within 365 calendar days)
  • Symptoms of androgen deficiency with testosterone levels over 6 nmol/L, in the absence of any anabolic steroid use in the last 3 months.
  • NB: PBS subsidised testosterone treatment must be prescribed initially by an endocrinologist and patients must have two morning testosterone levels < 6 nmol/L or established pituitary or gonadal disease

Please insert the below information and minimum referral criteria into referral

1. Reason for request Indicate on the referral

  • To establish a diagnosis
  • For treatment or intervention
  • For advice and management
  • For specialist to take over management
  • Reassurance for GP/second opinion
  • For a specified test/investigation the GP can't order, or the patient can't afford or access
  • Reassurance for the patient/family
  • For other reason (e.g. rapidly accelerating disease progression)
  • Clinical judgement indicates a referral for specialist review is necessary

2. Essential referral information Referral will be returned without this

  • History:  age and health, reproductive history, testicular condition, history of exogenous androgens/ anabolic steroids
  • Height, weight, BMI
  • Morning (0700-0900 hours) sample for LH, FSH, total testosterone, SHBG and calculated free testosterone
  • If FSH and LH are not elevated:
    • prolactin
    • Morning (08:00-09:00) Cortisol
    • TSH, T4
    • IGF1
  • If infertility:  seminal analysis (≥4 days of abstinence).  
    • Repeat in 4-6 weeks if abnormal.

3. Additional referral information Useful for processing the referral

  • Bone mineral densitometry
  • History of marijuana use (including partner) or other relevant medications that contribute to infertility e.g. illicit drugs, steroids, chemotherapy – make reference if appropriate

4. Request

  • Patient's Demographic Details

    • Full name (including aliases)
    • Date of birth
    • Residential and postal address
    • Telephone contact number/s – home, mobile and alternative
    • Medicare number (where eligible)
    • Name of the parent or caregiver (if appropriate)
    • Preferred language and interpreter requirements
    • Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander

    Referring Practitioner Details

    • Full name
    • Full address
    • Contact details – telephone, fax, email
    • Provider number
    • Date of referral
    • Signature

    Relevant clinical information about the condition

    • Presenting symptoms (evolution and duration)
    • Physical findings
    • Details of previous treatment (including systemic and topical medications prescribed) including the course and outcome of the treatment
    • Body mass index (BMI)
    • Details of any associated medical conditions which may affect the condition or its treatment (e.g. diabetes), noting these must be stable and controlled prior to referral
    • Current medications and dosages
    • Drug allergies
    • Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs use

    Reason for request

    • To establish a diagnosis
    • For treatment or intervention
    • For advice and management
    • For specialist to take over management
    • Reassurance for GP/second opinion
    • For a specified test/investigation the GP can't order, or the patient can't afford or access
    • Reassurance for the patient/family
    • For other reason (e.g. rapidly accelerating disease progression)
    • Clinical judgement indicates a referral for specialist review is necessary

    Clinical modifiers

    • Impact on employment
    • Impact on education
    • Impact on home
    • Impact on activities of daily living
    • Impact on ability to care for others
    • Impact on personal frailty or safety
    • Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander

    Other relevant information

    • Willingness to have surgery (where surgery is a likely intervention)
    • Choice to be treated as a public or private patient
    • Compensable status (e.g. DVA, Work Cover, Motor Vehicle Insurance, etc.)
  • If any of the following are present or suspected, please refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or follow local emergency care protocols or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region.

    • Please note that where appropriate and where available, the referral may be streamed to an associated public allied health and/or nursing service.  Access to some specific services may include initial assessment and management by associated public allied health and/or nursing, which may either facilitate or negate the need to see the public medical specialist.

    • A change in patient circumstance (such as condition deteriorating, or becoming pregnant) may affect the urgency categorisation and should be communicated as soon as possible.

    • Please indicate in the referral if the patient is unable to access mandatory tests or investigations as they incur a cost or are unavailable locally.

Last updated: 2 December 2024

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