Symptoms Of Late-onset Hypogonadism Research Articles

Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism as a cause of NOA and its treatment

Abstract Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) represents a relatively rare cause of nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA), but its knowledge is crucial for the clinical andrologists, as it represents a condition that can be corrected with medical therapy in 3 quarters of cases. There are forms of congenital HH, whether or not associated with an absent sense of smell (anosmic HH or Kallmann syndrome, and normosmic HH, respectively), and forms of acquired HH. In congenital HH, complete absence of pubertal development is characteristic. On the other hand, if the deficit occurs after the time of pubertal development, as in acquired HH patients, infertility and typical symptoms of late-onset hypogonadism are the main reasons for seeking medical assistance. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) or gonadotropin replacement therapy is the mainstay of drug therapy and offers excellent results, although a small but significant proportion of patients do not achieve sufficient responses.

Association between Smoking and Symptoms of Late-Onset Hypogonadism in Korean Men

Association between Smoking and Symptoms of Late-Onset Hypogonadism in Korean Men

Long noncoding RNA XIST inhibition promotes Leydig cell apoptosis by acting as a competing endogenous RNA for microRNA-145a-5p that targets SIRT1 in late-onset hypogonadism.

Leydig cell (LCs) apoptosis is responsible for decreased serum testosterone levels during late-onset hypogonadism (LOH). Our study was designed to illustrate the regulatory effect of lncRNA XIST on LCs and to clarify its molecular mechanism of action in LOH. The Leydig cells (TM3) was treated by 300μM H2O2 for 8h to establish Leydig cell oxidative stress model in vitro. The expression levels of lncRNA XIST in the testicular tissues of patients with LOH were measured using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The interaction between lncRNA XIST/SIRT1 and miR-145a-5p was assessed using starBase and dual-luciferase reporter gene assays. Apoptotic cells and Caspase3 activity were determined by flow cytometry (FCM) assay. Testosterone concentration was determined by ELISA. Moreover, histological assessment of testicles in mice was performed by using HE staining and the TUNEL assay was used to determine apoptosis. We found that the lncRNA XIST was downregulated in the testicular tissues of LOH patients and mice and in H2O2-induced TM3 cells. XIST siRNA significantly promoted apoptosis, enhanced Caspase3 activity and reduced testosterone levels in H2O2-stimulated TM3 cells. Further studies showed that the miR-145a-5p inhibitor reversed the effect of XIST-siRNA on H2O2-induced Leydig cell apoptosis. MiR-145a-5p negatively regulated SIRT1 expression, and SIRT1-siRNA reversed the effects of the miR-145a-5p inhibitor on H2O2 stimulated TM3 cells. The in vivo experiments indicated that silencing of the lncRNA XIST aggravated LOH symptoms in mice. Inhibition of lncRNA XIST induces Leydig cell apoptosis through the miR-145a-5p/SIRT1 axis in the progression of LOH.

Correlation between Higher Aging Males' Symptoms Scores and a Higher Risk of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms.

Late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) is a condition caused by the decline of testosterone levels with aging and is associated with various symptoms, including lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs). Although some reports have shown that testosterone replacement treatment for LOH improves LUTSs, no large study has revealed a correlation between LUTSs and LOH. This study investigated the correlation between the severity of LOH and LUTSs in Japanese males >40 years of age using a web-based questionnaire with the Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) scale. We asked 2000 Japanese males to answer both the AMS and IPSS/QOL questionnaires using a web-based survey. Among these 2000 individuals, 500 individuals were assigned to each age group. The IPSS total score was positively correlated with the severity of AMS (shown as median [mean ± SD]): no/little group, 2 (3.67 ± 5.36); mild group, 6 (7.98 ± 6.91); moderate group, 11 (12.49 ± 8.63); and severe group, 16 (14.83 ± 9.24) (p < 0.0001). Individuals with higher AMS values, representing cases with severe LOH symptoms, had a higher risk of experiencing nocturia and LUTSs than those with lower AMS values.

Bibliometrics and visualization analysis of literature on male hypogonadism from 2000 to 2023: research focus and frontiers.

Male hypogonadism can seriously affect male health and fertility, yet comprehensive bibliometric and visualization analyses of research in this area have been lacking. This study aimed to examine the distribution of literature, identify research hotspots, and discern development trends in male hypogonadism by analyzing 4026 English documents published between 2000 and 2023 using bibliometric and visual analyses. The results indicated a significant increase in publications and citations related to male hypogonadism over the past two decades, with the United States, the University of Florence, Maggi M, and the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism recognized as the most productive and highly cited country, institution, author, and journal, respectively. The article titled "The GPR54 gene as a regulator of puberty" received the highest number of citations. The keywords were categorized into four distinct clusters, including the etiology and pathogenesis of male hypogonadism, symptoms of late-onset hypogonadism, testosterone replacement therapy and its contraindications, the correlation between male hypogonadism and metabolic syndrome (MetS), obesity, and the epidemiology of male hypogonadism. The most frequently co-occurring keywords were "hypogonadism", "testosterone", and "men", while "oxidative stress" was the most prominent burst keyword. The analysis also identified "male infertility" and "oxidative stress" as the primary burst keywords in the last five years, indicating their emerging high-interest topics. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive overview of male hypogonadism research, offering valuable insights for researchers interested in this area, including potential collaborators, current research hotspots, and future research directions.

Efficacy and Safety of Maca (Lepidium meyenii) in Patients with Symptoms of Late-Onset Hypogonadism: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

To evaluated the efficacy and safety of gelatinized Maca (Lepidium meyenii) for eugonadal patients with late onset hypogonadism symptoms (LOH). Participants were instructed to receive 1,000 mg of Maca or placebo, two pills at a time, three times per day for 12 weeks before food intake. To evaluate the efficacy of the drug, Aging Males' Symptoms scale (AMS), Androgen Deficiency in the Aging Males (ADAM), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaires, serologic tests (total testosterone and free testosterone, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride), body weight, and waist circumference were assessed at 4 and 12 weeks after treatment. A total of 80 participants were enrolled and randomly assigned to Maca treated group (n=41) or the placebo group (n=39). AMS, IIEF, and IPSS were significantly (p<0.05) improved in Maca treated group than in the placebo group. ADAM positive rate was also significantly (p<0.0001) decreased in Maca treated group. Maca may be considered an effective and safe treatment for eugonadal patients with late onset hypogonadism symptoms.

Efficacy of testosterone replacement treatment for patients with symptoms of late-onset hypogonadism based on real-world patient satisfaction.

Late-onset hypogonadism is generally treated with testosterone replacement treatment. However, the efficacy rate of treatment for patients with low testosterone is not clear because patients without low testosterone are also treated in real-world clinical settings. This study comprised 110 men with low testosterone concentration of <3.0 ng/mL who underwent testosterone replacement treatment. Physical factors, laboratory and endocrinologic profiles, and scores of several questionnaires were assessed. Testosterone replacement treatment was performed with intramuscular injection of 250 mg of testosterone esters every 2-4 weeks, and efficacy was judged by patient satisfaction. After confirming efficacy, changes in several factors by the treatment were evaluated. Finally, the comparison between evaluation by patient satisfaction and by that with the questionnaires was assessed. Among the 110 patients, 77 (70.0%) were satisfied with the treatment, which was effective in 65.7%, 71.4%, and 73.1% of patients with mental, physical, and sexual dysfunction, respectively. The questionnaire scores including the Aging Males Symptoms rating scale were significantly improved in both the satisfaction and non-satisfaction group. However, no significant differences in the amount of change in questionnaire scores were found for all questionnaire scores improved by testosterone replacement treatment between the groups. Patient satisfaction was not associated with improvement of the Aging Males Symptoms score. Although testosterone replacement treatment was effective for 70.0% of the hypogonadal patients, patient satisfaction did not correlate with improvement of questionnaire scores. We concluded that not only questionnaire results but also patient satisfaction is important when evaluating efficacy in patients undergoing testosterone replacement treatment.

How Low is Low Enough to be Given Testosterone Replacement Therapy in Patients with Late Onset Hypogonadism? What Should Be Evaluated? A Case Report

Abstract&#x0D; Background: Late Onset Hypogonadism (LOH) is a disease associated with advancing age, characterized by symptoms and a deficiency in serum testosterone. It is important to choose which patient suitable for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), but there is no one consensus that fits for all. After treating patients with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), several parameters need to be evaluated.&#x0D; Case: A 74-years old male came with chief complaint of difficulty to maintain erection since 2 years ago.. PADAM questionnaire was positive and IIEF-5 score was 6. Physical examination showed an underweight condition. Total testosterone level was 3,65ng/mL, and patient chose to be given TRT instead of evaluating his free testosterone. PDE-5 inhibitor and non-pharmacologic treatment was also given. Follow-up showed that his erection was improved.&#x0D; Discussions: At which level should testosterone be substituted is still debatable. Several consensuses issued by several organization still cannot be used universally. Study in Indonesia showed that symptoms of LOH had been occur when the testosterone level still in normal range. After giving TRT to our patients, routine follow up is needed. Non pharmacologic treatment also needs to be addressed to improve the outcome.&#x0D; Conclusions: Symptoms of LOH had been occurred even though testosterone level is still in normal range. The consideration made by clinician is the most important thing to be evaluated, whether to give TRT or not. Somatic and laboratory parameters mentioned in this study is important to be evaluated.

Association of symptomatic late-onset hypogonadism and lower urinary tract symptoms in aging males: a community-based study

Objective: Testosterone deficiency may be a risk factor for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), and there may be a causal link between the emergence of LUTS and the incidence of late-onset hypogonadism (LOH). We performed an epidemiologic study to investigate the association between symptomatic late-onset hypogonadism (SLOH) and LUTS in middle-aged and elderly rural Chinese males. Methods: A total of 965 men completed a questionnaire and underwent a detailed physical examination. The Aging Males’ Symptoms (AMS) scale was used to assess SLOH, and the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire was used to assess LUTS. Serum reproductive hormone levels of testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured. Results: A total of 965 males (mean age: 56.34 ± 8.85, range: 40–80 years) were recruited for the present study. A total of 20.93% (202/965) were diagnosed with SLOH. A total of 93.16% (899/965) had mild LUTS, 5.18% (50/965) had moderate LUTS, and 1.66% (16/965) had severe LUTS. Among SLOH patients, 13.40% (27/202) and 3.90% (8/202) had moderate and severe LUTS, respectively. Patients with severe LUTS had increased SHBG and LH compared with those with mild and moderate LUTS (P &lt;0.01). Correlation analysis revealed that the AMS total score was positively correlated with the IPSS score (P &lt;0.05). The prevalence of SLOH was significantly increased with LUTS severity. In addition to the known effect of age, the results of multiple regression analysis also showed that serum LH or SHBG appeared to have a weak link with SLOH and LUTS that requires etiological and biological clarification in our future study. Conclusion: In this cross-sectional analysis of SLOH and LUTS, LUTS severity was significantly associated with hypogonadism symptoms. Additionally, the prevalence of SLOH advanced with increasing LUTS severity. Serum SHBG or LH showed a positive correlation with SLOH and LUTS.

Relationship between sexual function improvement and treatment satisfaction by TRT in LOH patients

ABSTRACT Introduction In the treatment of LOH (late-onset hypogonadism) syndrome, TRT (testosterone replacement therapy) is effective for various LOH related symptoms including sexual function. However, among Japanese population, sexual desire is not always strong in elderly men. Even if the patients do not have opportunities of sexual intercourse, TRT may still be beneficial for other symptoms derived from LOH syndrome. Objectives To examine patients’ satisfaction by TRT, we examined the relationship between TRT effect on sexual function and whole treatment satisfaction in our patient cohort. Methods Patients who have LOH symptoms and low serum free-testosterone (FT) levels were diagnosed as LOH syndrome. FT was diagnosed as “low” when &amp;lt;8.5pg/ml, while diagnosed as “borderline” when 8.5-11.8pg/ml. For TRT, testosterone enanthate 250mg/2-4weeks was given for more than 6 months. SHIM (Sexual Health Inventory for Men) score and our original questionnaire asking whether they are satisfied with the treatment were examined. Results Median patients’ age was 54 years (n=95). Before treatment, total testosterone was 4.5±1.8ng/ml and free testosterone was 6.2±2.3pg/ml. The majority of chief complaint before treatment were psychological or somatic symptoms. After treatment, SHIM score showed significant improvement in all questions of 1 to 5, and total SHIM score increased from 6.4 to 9.4. The number of patients who have few opportunities for sexual intercourse (0 point for SHIM Q3.4.5) decreased from 66% to 48% after treatment. Using the questionnaire for patients’ satisfaction, 71% were classified into the effective group. The number of patients who still had few opportunities of sexual intercourse after treatment was 39% in the effective group and 71% in the ineffective group. Conclusions From the point of patient satisfaction, TRT for LOH syndrome was effective in 71% of patients. Almost 40 percent of the patients who were satisfied with the treatment answered that there were few opportunities of sexual intercourse even after treatment. The improvement in sexual function may not be always required in a cohort of our patient population. Disclosure Work supported by industry: no.

Relationship between self- image of penile size and erectile function in Japanese men

ABSTRACT Background Many studies on penile size have been conducted in other countries, but very few in Japan. Furthermore, there are no reports about men's self-image of penile size or the effect of self-image on erectile function. Objectives We investigated penile size in male urology outpatients and examined the difference between subjective and objective penile size and the relationship between self-image and erectile function. Materials and Methods 186 patients who visited our clinic between April 2007 and March 2015 with the chief complaint of late-onset hypogonadism symptoms were enrolled. Patients were asked to complete a questionnaire that included their self-assessed flaccid and erect penile length, self-image of their penile size, SHIM (Sexual Health Inventory for Men) score, and time to ejaculation. All objective penile measurements including stretched length and circumference were performed by the same physician (s). Results The mean self-assessed flaccid and erect penile lengths were 6.8 cm and 12.5 cm, respectively. The mean objectively measured flaccid and stretched penile lengths were 8.3 cm and 12.6 cm, respectively. Most of the patients (71.0%) rated their penis as normal, 27.9% as small, and only 1.1% as large. 28.5% of the patients described their penis as short, and 17.2% as thin. The mean SHIM score of patients who rated their penis as small (7.9) was significantly lower than that of patients who rated their penis as normal (10.5) (p&amp;lt;0.05). The mean time to ejaculation of all patients was 8.7 minutes, and that of the patients with premature ejaculation was 4.6 minutes. Fewer cases (8.6%) desired treatment for penile length, compared to those desiring treatment for ED (31.7%) or premature ejaculation (18.3%). Conclusion Compared with reports from other countries, a high percentage of Japanese patients are dissatisfied with their penile size, and these patients may have a lower self-esteem with respect to their erectile function. Disclosure Work supported by industry: no.

International Prostate Symptom Score and Quality of Life Index for Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Are Associated with Aging Males Symptoms Rating Scale for Late-Onset Hypogonadism Symptoms.

Although patients with late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) often experience lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), LUTS are not generally included in LOH symptoms. No study has examined the direct relation of the Aging Males Symptoms rating scale (AMS) and the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) with the quality of life (QOL) index. We analyzed the relation between the IPSS and QOL index and various factors including the AMS in patients with LOH syndromes. This study comprised 1,688 men with LOH symptoms who visited our hospital or affiliated clinic. Factors associated with the IPSS were assessed in terms of age, scores of several questionnaires including the AMS, endocrinological variables, and serum concentration of PSA. Among these same factors, those associated with the QOL index were also evaluated. Finally, the same analyses were repeated in 187 patients with low serum testosterone concentration (<3.0 ng/mL). In a multivariate analysis using the significant items from the univariate analysis, AMS, age, and Erection Hardness Score correlated significantly with the IPSS. A trend analysis using items other than the AMS as adjustment factors also confirmed the relationship between an increase in QOL index and an increase in AMS. Similar results were obtained in the analysis of patients with low serum testosterone concentration. We revealed that the relation of IPSS with the QOL index for LUTS is closely associated with the AMS for LOH, regardless of testosterone level. When patients complain of LOH symptoms, a careful, detailed inquiry into LUTS is required.

Efficacy and Safety of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid for Patients with Symptoms of Late-Onset Hypogonadism: A Preliminary Study.

PurposeAs the concept of late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) has gained increased attention, the treatment of eugonadal patients with LOH symptom has become a clinical problem. Previous studies have shown the possible benefits of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) on the somatic, psychological and sexual functions. We therefore conducted this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to confirm the efficacy and safety of 5-ALA for LOH symptoms.Materials and MethodsThirty-two eugonadal subjects with LOH symptoms were randomly divided into a 5-ALA group (n=15) and a placebo group (n=17). Treatment was continued for 8 weeks. The change of the Aging Males’ Symptoms (AMS) scale score and several biochemical and endocrinological variables during treatment were compared between the groups.ResultsAfter treatment, the change in the total AMS in the 5-ALA group was significantly greater than that in the placebo group (-7.4±4.7 vs. -4.9±4.9, p=0.029). However, the differences between the groups in the change of the somatic, psychological, and sexual sub-scores of the AMS did not reach the statistical significance, although these changes in the 5-ALA group were greater than those in the placebo group. Furthermore, the change in the biochemical and endocrinological variables in the two groups did not differ to a statistically significant extent. During the 8-week treatment period, no patients discontinued 5-ALA due to treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs).ConclusionsThe intake of 5-ALA for 8 weeks was beneficial for eugonadal patients with symptoms of LOH and no severe TEAEs was experienced. 5-ALA should be considered as an option for those patients.

Clinical efficiency of combination therapy using testosterone replacement therapy, phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors and Kampo herbal medicine for eugonadal patients with late-onset hypogonadism syndrome.

In the present study, the initial treatment efficiency of combination therapy using testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), herbal medicine and phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (PDE5i) in male patients with late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) were assessed. A total of 21 patients were enrolled and after 12 weeks, the clinical efficacy was evaluated based on improvement of LOH symptoms via laboratory parameters and several questionnaires, including the Ageing Males' Symptoms (AMS) scale. The overall AMS scores, as well as the psychological, physical and sexual AMS factors prior to and after treatment in the TRT, testosterone enanthate (T enanthate) monotherapy and T enanthate + PDE5i treatment groups were significantly improved. In the herbal medicine group, only the AMS physiological factors were significantly improved after treatment compared with the baseline. The improvement of the overall AMS scores, as well as the physiological and sexual AMS factors, were significantly negatively correlated with the free testosterone (FT) value prior to treatment. In conclusion, treatment with combination therapy using TRT, herbal medicine and PDE5i improved AMS scores in patients with LOH syndrome. Particularly in patients with LOH syndrome and low FT, the symptoms were significantly improved following combination therapy.

The Prevalence of Late-Onset Hypogonadism in Middle-Aged Men and Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Background: Life expectancy has increased dramatically worldwide, resulting in a sharp rise of age-associated diseases, including late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) in men. Aim: To assess the prevalence of LOH and to determine its relationships with cardiovascular risk factors in healthy middle-aged men. Material and Methods: A total of 200 men aged 44–55 (median 48.44, interquartile range 45.02–52.50) undergoing regular medical examinations were enrolled in a study. All participants were asked to complete the International Index of Erectile Dysfunction, Aging Male's Symptoms, and Beck Depression Inventory questionnaires. Sex and gonadotropin hormones were measured in all participants. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) risk was assessed in all participants by using the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation scale, and additional risk factors were recommended in the 2019 European Society of Cardiology and European Atherosclerosis Society guidelines for the management of dyslipidemias: lipid modification to reduce cardiovascular risk. Results: Ninety-eight (49%) men suffered from LOH. Men with total testosterone (TT) of <12 nmol/L were considered testosterone-deficient. The mean TT level was 8.9 ± 2.4 nmol/L in the LOH group. Clinical signs and symptoms of LOH were associated with lower TT levels: 7.78 ± 2.49 and 10.15 ± 1.32 in the groups with and without LOH, respectively (p = 0.004). The prevalence of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and depression was significantly higher among men with LOH, compared with men without it. High cardiovascular risk was found only in those participants present with LOH (p = 0.003). After collecting other risk factors, we found that 94.9% of participants assigned to the LOH group had high cardiovascular risk. Conclusion: The prevalence of LOH is high among healthy middle-aged men. Moreover, it is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. Early measurement of TT levels in this population group may predict the development of CVD and allow the introduction of timely primary prevention measures to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Associations between smoking, sex hormone levels and late-onset hypogonadism in men differ depending on age.

Few studies have investigated whether associations between smoking, sex hormone levels, and symptoms of late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) in men are affected by age. This multi-center, cross-sectional study involving 6,296 men aged 40-79 years was conducted between June 1, 2013 and August 31, 2016 in 6 provinces of China. Total testosterone, free testosterone, and Aging Males’ Symptoms scale (AMS) scores were compared depending on smoking status and the number of cigarettes smoked. Total testosterone was higher in smokers than in non-smokers in all except the 70-79 year old subgroup. Free testosterone was higher in smokers than non-smokers for the 40-49 and 50-59 year old subgroups, but not the 60-69 and 70-79 year old subgroups. Total testosterone was positively associated with number of cigarettes consumed in smokers aged 40-49 and 50-59 years. Sexual and somatic AMS scores were higher in current and ex-smokers than in non-smokers in all age subgroups from 40 to 79 years and were negatively associated with cigarette consumption in smokers aged 40-49 years. These results indicate that, as men age, the positive association between smoking and testosterone weakens, while the positive association between smoking and LOH symptoms becomes stronger.

Serum sex hormone-binding globulin is associated with symptomatic late-onset hypogonadism in aging rural males: a community-based study.

A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Zhejiang rural communities. A total of 965 men (aged 40-80 years) were admitted to the aging males' symptoms (AMS) scale and related physical examinations including body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were conducted. Serum total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and serum lipid levels were measured separately. Serum level of bioavailable testosterone (Bio-T) was calculated. A total of 965 participants were divided into two groups, symptomatic late-onset hypogonadism (SLOH) group (n = 202) (AMS score ≥27) and control group (n = 763), according to total AMS score. Men in the SLOH group were older (61.57±9.06 vs 54.95±8.27 years) and had a smaller waist circumference (81.06±6.89 vs 82.54±6.60 cm) than those in the control group. Moreover, a relatively higher level of SHBG and lower levels of FT, Bio-T, triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (T-CHOL) were found in the SLOH group compared with that in the control group (P < 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) analysis showed that age (AUC = 0.702, P < 0.001) and SHBG (AUC = 0.617, P < 0.001) were potential predictive indicators for SLOH diagnosis, with the best cut-off values of 59 years for age and 44.40 nmol/L for SHBG. SHBG might be a potential predictor in men with hypogonadism, whereas BMI had no proportionality to the measurement of AMS. Age and SHBG should be used for SLOH diagnosis.

Prevalence of late-onset hypogonadism among middle-aged and elderly males in China

This study aimed to propose an operational definition of late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) that incorporates both clinical symptoms and serum testosterone measurements to evaluate the prevalence of LOH in aging males in China. A population-based sample of 6296 men aged 40 years–79 years old was enrolled from six representative provinces in China. Serum total testosterone (TT), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured and free testosterone (cFT) was calculated. The Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) scale was used to evaluate the LOH symptoms. Finally, 5078 men were included in this analysis. The TT levels did not decrease with age (P = 0.59), and had no relationship with AMS symptoms (P = 0.87 for AMS total score, P = 0.74 for ≥ 3 sexual symptoms). The cFT levels decreased significantly with age (P < 0.01) and showed a negative association with the presence of ≥ 3 sexual symptoms (P = 0.03). The overall estimated prevalence of LOH was 7.8% (395/5078) if a cFT level <210 pmol l−1 combined with the presence of ≥ 3 sexual symptoms was used as the criterion of LOH. Among them, 26.1% (103/395) and 73.9% (292/395) had primary and secondary hypogonadism, respectively. After adjustment for confounding factors, primary and secondary hypogonadism was positively related to age and comorbidities. Body mass index was an independent risk factor for secondary hypogonadism. The results suggest that the AMS total score is not an appropriate indicator for decreased testosterone, and that the cFT level is more reliable than TT for LOH diagnosis. Secondary hypogonadism is the most common form of LOH.

Endocrinological and symptomatic characteristics of patients with late-onset hypogonadism classified by functional categories based on testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels.

To define the characteristics of patients with late-onset hypogonadism based on endocrinological findings. We assessed age, body mass index, laboratory/endocrinological profiles and symptom-specific questionnaire scores of 967 men with late-onset hypogonadism symptoms. The patients comprised four groups by testosterone and luteinizing hormone concentrations: normal group, compensated hypogonadism group, primary hypogonadism group and secondary hypogonadism group. We compared characteristics between the normal group and compensated hypogonadism group in men with normal testosterone concentration, and the primary hypogonadism group and secondary hypogonadism group in hypogonadal men after age adjustment. The normal group, compensated hypogonadism group, primary hypogonadism group and secondary hypogonadism group accounted for 83.6%, 3.4%, 0.8% and 12.2% of patients, respectively. Despite age adjustment, serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and insulin-like growth factor1 concentrations were significantly lower in the compensated hypogonadism group than the normal group. Only the Aging Males' Symptoms scale mental subscore was significantly different. Serum testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate concentrations were significantly lower in the primary hypogonadism group than the secondary hypogonadism group. Only the Aging Males' Symptoms scale sexual subscore was significantly different. Most patients with late-onset hypogonadism symptoms are in the normal group, with secondary hypogonadism being much more frequent than primary hypogonadism. Current symptomatic differences among these groups are minor. Classifying patients by testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels might provide useful information for follow up.

Relationship between Hypogonadal Symptoms, Sexual Dysfunction and Chronic Prostatitis in Middle-Aged Men by Self-Reported Questionnaires, even without Biochemical Testosterone Deficiency.

PurposeTo investigate the association of erectile dysfunction (ED), premature ejaculation (PE), and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) in men with late-onset hypogonadism (LOH).Materials and MethodsWe reviewed the data of 408 enrolled men between January 2014 and January 2019. All participants completed the Androgen Deficiency in the Aging Male (ADAM), international index of erectile function-5 (IIEF-5), National Institutes of Health chronic prostatitis symptom index (NIH-CPSI), and premature ejaculation diagnostic tool (PEDT) questionnaires. Participants were divided by ADAM positive (ADAM+: Group 1) and ADAM negative (ADAM−: Group 2).ResultsTotal of 289 subjects were in Group 1 and 119 were in Group 2. The mean age was 53.8±7.8 years. The mean total testosterone was 4.8±1.2 ng/dL and showed no differences between the groups (p=0.839). In Groups 1 and 2, ED (IIEF≤21) was identified in 233 (80.6%) versus 37 (31.1%), respectively (p<0.001). The prevalence of PE (PEDT≥9) was 112 (38.7%) versus 13 (10.9%) in Groups 1 and 2, respectively (p<0.001). However, PE (intravaginal ejaculation latency time<5 minutes) showed no differences between the groups (p=0.863). The incidence of chronic prostatitis (NIH-CPSI pain score≥4) showed significant differences with 49 (17.0%) versus 8 (6.7%) in Groups 1 and 2, respectively (p=0.007). IIEF-5 total score showed the significantly highest negative correlation (r=−0.313, p<0.001).ConclusionsThose who complained of LOH symptoms and positive results in the ADAM questionnaire need to be assessed concurrently with the above questionnaires. This could aid useful to detect of ED, PE, and chronic prostatitis co-occurrence.