Functional hypogonadism is a condition characterized by low testosterone concentrations, occurring more commonly in men as they age. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) is used to categorize the severity of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and related symptoms in hypogonadal men. Testosterone therapy (TTh) has previously shown potential in improving total IPSS in men with hypogonadism. However, concerns regarding the effects of urinary function following TTh often prevent treatment in hypogonadal men. To explore this further, two population-based single-center, prospective, cumulative registry studies were combined to contribute to a total population of 1176 men with symptoms of hypogonadism. The total population was separated into a TTh group receiving testosterone undecanoate (TU) for up to 12 years and a control group that did not receive treatment. IPSS was recorded at both baseline and at final recorded visit for each patient. Long-term TTh with TU in hypogonadal men resulted in significant improvements in IPSS categories, even in patients with severe symptoms at baseline. In the control group, untreated hypogonadal men experienced a worsening of IPSS categories. These data indicate that TTh improves LUTS in men with hypogonadism and suggest that previous concerns regarding urinary function may have been overstated.
The aging male : the official journal of the International Society for the Study of the Aging Male. 2023 Dec [Epub]
Aksam Yassin, Daniel Kelly, Joanne Nettleship, Raidh Talib, Raed M Al-Zoubi, Omar M Aboumarzouk, Bassam Albaba
Hamad Medical Corporation, Department of Surgery, Division of Urology/Andrology & Men's Health, Doha, Qatar., Biomolecular Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK., Department of Oncology and Metabolism, Medical School, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK., Surgical Research Section, Department of Surgery, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar., Center of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dresden International University, Dresden, Germany.