2025
On Friday, March 7th, AGEM hosted the "(Dis)balances in Androgens Throughout Life" symposium at the Volkshotel, Amsterdam.
Following registration, coffee, and stroopwafels, the morning kicked off with Annemieke Heijboer, head of the Endocrine Laboratory at Amsterdam UMC. Her talk on methods for measuring androgens provided attendees with a solid foundation to critically engage with the rest of the day's presentations. How important is it to consider which measurement method we use? What does that mean for reference intervals, and how do we even establish reference intervals for something influenced by so many different factors?
Bas Adriaansen opened Session 2 (Androgens in Children) with a talk on androgen overproduction in girls due to congenital adrenal hyperplasia, impressing everyone with his excellent presentation and delivery. Sabine Hannema followed with a discussion on androgen deficiency in childhood, highlighting the potential predictive functions of mini-puberty. Lidewij Boogers sparked an engaging discussion on testosterone suppression and supplementation in transgender adolescents, emphasizing the consequences of initiating and discontinuing hormone treatments at different stages of a transgender person's life. The session concluded with Baudewijntje Kreukels, who explored the psychological effects of having too many or too few androgens—an especially relevant topic given evolving perspectives on sex and gender differences.
During the lunch break, half of the attendees and speakers could be found enjoying their sandwiches and soup in the sunshine—it was, after all, a sunny March day. The other half opted to stay inside, continuing discussions from Session 2 around the standing tables.
Session 3 started strong with Joop Laven’s talk on PCOS. Did you know that PCOS symptoms generally decline with age and that individuals with PCOS may have a later fertile window in life? Joop also discussed the characteristics associated with the offspring of individuals with PCOS. Inge Custers immediately captured everyone's attention by opening her talk with the question: "What is sex?" She explored the influence of age—and androgens—on sex throughout life, drawing an analogy between the progression of sex drive and the ability to complete a marathon at different life stages. Andreas Meißner followed with a highly interactive, clinically inspired presentation on the effects of androgen deficiency in males. He presented unique cases, including one that demonstrated how low testosterone levels do not always necessitate replacement therapy if the patient does not experience negative effects or feel the need to increase their levels. Lastly, Pim de Ronde shared the background of how the Anabolenpoli—a clinic for individuals using anabolic steroids for performance—came to be. He presented results from two major studies conducted at the clinic, highlighting key findings such as: "Without any patient education on steroid use, individuals are likely to take significantly more than intended." A great example of how creating a safe and open environment can improve both patient and healthcare outcomes.
The day wrapped up with drinks and classic Dutch snacks, providing attendees with the opportunity to connect with speakers and each other to discuss the day’s fascinating insights. A successful event that will keep its momentum going for some time!
