Question

A nurse is providing medication teaching to a 12-year-old male patient with hypogonadism. Which statement, made by the patient, indicates an understanding of the prescribed medication, testosterone enanthate?

Answer 1

Answer:

"I will come to the clinic every 4 weeks for shots of testosterone."

Explanation:

Hypogonadism is defined as testosterone deficiency with associated signs or symptoms, sperm production deficiency or both. It may be due to a disorder of the testicles (primary hypogonadism) or the hypothalamic-pituitary axis (secondary hypogonadism).

The patient can receive long-acting testosterone enanthate, in doses of 50 mg IM once a month, for 4 to 8 months. These low doses produce some virilization without affecting the height that will be reached as an adult. Older adolescents with testosterone deficiency receive long-acting testosterone enanthate or testosterone cypionate, in doses that are gradually increased over 18 to 24 months, from 50 to 100 and 200 mg IM, every 1 to 2 weeks. Transcutaneous administration gels can also be used, although they are more expensive, can be transferred to other people during intimate contact and are more difficult to dose accurately. It is considered reasonable to move older adolescents to testosterone gel preparations with adult doses when their IM doses have reached the equivalent of 100 to 200 mg every 2 weeks.