Mesterolone treatment of aging male syndrome improves lower urinary tract symptoms

Objective: To investigate the effects of mesterolone on prostate in patients treated for aging male syndrome. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from June to September, 2009, at endocrinology and metabolism department of Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey, and comprised patients with symptoms of aging male syndrome and/or low testosterone. They were given mesterolone 50mg/day per oral for two months. Aging Male Symptoms and International Prostate Symptom Score questionaires and prostate-related quality of life scores were completed and prostate ultrasonography (USG) was performed before and after the treatment. Total testosterone, free testosterone, gonadotropins, estradiol, prolactin, sex-hormone binding globulin, as well as total and free prostate-specific antigen were also studied. Results: Of the 34 patients in the study, 22(64.70%) had their prostate volume increased, while 12 (35.29%) had it decreased. The change, however, was not statistically significant (p 0.098). Mesterolone significantly improved Aging Male Symptoms, International Prostate Symptom and prostate-related quality of life scores (p 0.001). These improvements though significant were independent of the changes in prostate volume. Total testosterone, sexhormone binding globulin andestradiol decreased, while free testosterone showed no change (p 0.002, p 0.001, p 0.024, p 0.337). The fraction of free testosterone increased (p 0.001), while total and free prostate-specific antigen did not change (p 0.368 and p 0.841) Conclusion: Mesterolone proved to be a safe alternative in the treatment of Aging Male Syndrome. It also improved lower urinary tract symptoms and prostate-related quality of life.