Role of androgens in modulating male and female sexual function

The Effect of Testosterone Replacement Therapy on Penile Hemodynamics in Hypogonadal Men With Erectile Dysfunction, Having Veno-Occlusive Dysfunction

Hypogonadism may cause veno-occlusive dysfunction (VOD) by structural and biochemical alterations in the cavernosal tissue. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) on penile hemodynamics in hypogonadal men with erectile dysfunction and VOD.

The study included 32 hypogonadal men with erectile dysfunction, having VOD. All patients underwent penile color Doppler ultrasonography (PCDU) at the beginning and 6 months after the initial evaluation. Erectile function was evaluated with the 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5); hypogonadism was evaluated by testosterone measurement and the Aging Male Symptoms (AMS) scale. All patients received transdermal testosterone 50 mg/day for 6 months. Clinical and radiological findings were compared before and 6 months after the TRT.

The mean age was 58.81 ± 4.56 (52–69) years. Mean total testosterone levels were 181.06 ± 39.84 ng/dL and 509.00 ± 105.57 ng/dL before and after the therapy, respectively (p < .001). While all patients had physiological serum testosterone levels (>320 ng/dL) after the therapy, three cases (9.3%) had no clinical improvement of hypogonadism symptoms. Cavernosal artery peak systolic velocity (PSV) and resistive index (RI) significantly increased, and end diastolic velocity (EDV) significantly decreased after TRT. VOD no longer existed in 21 (65.6%) of the cases.

This study demonstrated that TRT may restore penile hemodynamics in hypogonadal men with VOD.