Hypogonadism and androgen deficiency symptoms in testicular cancer survivors

To investigate the prevalence of hypogonadism in correlation with androgen deficiency symptoms in testicular cancer survivors.

Luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, serum testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, and sex hormone binding globulin levels were determined in patients who had undergone treatment for unilateral testicular cancer. Patients with serum testosterone levels less than 3.0 ng/mL were classified as hypogonadal; all other testosterone levels signified eugonadism. Additionally, all patients completed the Aging Males' Symptoms scale: scores of less than 26 indicated no androgen deficiency symptoms and scores greater than 27 indicated symptoms.

According to testosterone level, 18 (26.5%) of 68 patients were hypogonadal and 50 (73.5%) were eugonadal (P = 0.456). According to the Aging Males' Symptoms scale, 23 (33.8%) of the 68 patients had androgen deficiency symptoms and 45 (66.2%) had no symptoms (P = 0.267). The median testosterone level was 3.6 ng/mL in all patients with androgen deficiency symptoms, 2.4 ng/mL in patients with androgen deficiency symptoms who were hypogonadal, and 4.7 ng/mL in those with androgen deficiency symptoms who were eugonadal.

Testicular cancer survivors are at risk of developing hypogonadism and androgen deficiency symptoms. However, no specific testosterone threshold could be detected at which symptoms start, indicating that each patient has an individual testosterone threshold for androgen deficiency symptoms.