Hypogonadism and urologic surgeries: a narrative review

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Andrology
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Male hypogonadism is increasingly recognized as a factor influencing surgical outcomes.
• Previous studies suggest potential benefits of treating hypogonadism in surgical settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the impact of male hypogonadism on urologic surgeries.
• To review outcomes of urologic surgeries in hypogonadal men with or without testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).

Main Methods:

• Literature review of PubMed and Google Scholar databases.
• Inclusion of full-text English articles from January 1970 to March 2022.
• Focus on studies related to hypogonadism and urologic surgery outcomes.

Main Results:

• Androgen deficiency is common post-urologic surgery.
• TRT's role in prostate carcinoma and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is controversial, with conflicting data on disease progression and symptom relief.
• Perioperative TRT may reduce morbidities and recurrence in bladder cancer patients.
• Low testosterone increases complication risks after artificial urinary sphincter placement.

Conclusions:

• The impact of TRT in urologic conditions like prostate carcinoma and BPH remains debated.
• Further research is essential to clarify the effects of hypogonadism and TRT on urologic surgery outcomes in patients with androgen deficiency.