A recent study has shown that hormonal function is not only not harmful to the urinary system, but is beneficial.
Despite the belief that testosterone worsens genitourinary system function, the study demonstrated that the contrary is true and normal function was maintained in the urinary system. Notwithstanding this a correction of testosterone levels in patients’ blood was also observed and patients reported an improvement in the region of 60-70% in erectile dysfunction.
Dr. Francisco Martínez Peñalver – Medical Director Neolife Marbella
As time passes there appears to be ever-increasing scientific evidence that dismantles the “negative image” of testosterone, showing that this hormone helps us through a slow and healthy ageing process.
Often treatments administered to young adults (and increasingly to those that are “not so young”) are accompanied by all kinds of fears concerning the side effects that have been traditionally associated with this hormone including: hair loss, prostate cancer, liver cancer, infertility… Sadly these alleged side effects serve to keep most patients away from this therapeutic option, which on the contrary could be the remedy or relief that many of the patients require for their present condition. The fact remains that the word “testosterone” in our culture has always carried a negative connotation.
The administration of the hormone can be delivered in the form of a gel or by means of an injection weekly or biweekly, for localised pain, both of these methods have room for marked improvement. Until recently a quarterly injection was available to patients in our country, the Testosterone Undecanoate, but it was withdrawn from the market after claims that the patients did not reach the desired levels in a sustained manner.
One of the most widely known “supposed effects” was on the genitourinary system. Supposedly hormone therapy with testosterone increases the size of the prostate, which could compromise the genitourinary system function by hindering the exit of urine from the body.
A recent study published last July in the Journals of Urology by researchers at Boston University School of Medicine and Public Health showed that the hormonal function is not only not harmful to the urinary system, but in reality can be beneficial where Testosterone Undecanoate is administered quarterly. Indeed, the observed effects showed a reduction in the amount of urine remaining in the bladder, a parameter which is often an indicator of good urinary system function, and no significant increase in the size of the prostate gland was observed. Secondly, a correction of testosterone levels in patients’ blood was also observed and patients reported an improvement in the region of 60-70% in erectile dysfunction.
There is an increasing amount of evidence in the literature in two senses. The first is the evidence put forward in this article, that over time there has been a gradual dismantling of the “negative image” of testosterone thanks to serious scientific evidence which we have reviewed. The second, which will be the subject of future articles on this matter, is that testosterone improves the ability of the heart to act as a pump, impedes deterioration of the brain, and prepares the body to transition through a slow and healthy ageing process. Furthermore, this study highlights that it may be possible to improve the method used for administration to one that is more comfortable than the current methods available and on which we will have to continue investigating.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
(1) Long-Term testosterone therapy improves urinary and sexual function and quality of life in men with hypogonadism: Results from a propensity-matched subgroup of a controlled registry study. Haideer KS, Haider A, Doros G, Traish A. J Urol. 2017 Jul 17. pii: S0022-5347(17)77145-5.