TRT boosts sexual function, eases symptoms in men with hypogonadism

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can help increase sexual activity, improve hypogonadal symptoms, and boost sexual desire among middle-aged and older men with hypogonadism and low libido, reports a study. However, TRT does not improve erectile function.

Sexual activity improved significantly greater with TRT than with placebo (estimated mean between-group difference [MBGD], 0.49 acts per day, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 0.19‒0.79 at 6 months; estimated MBGD, 0.47 acts per day, 95 percent CI, 0.11‒0.83 at 12 months; omnibus test: p=0.011). Treatment effect persisted for 24 months.

In addition, TRT led to improvements in hypogonadal symptoms and sexual desire, but not erectile dysfunction, relative to placebo.

A total of 5,204 men aged 45‒80 years, with two testosterone concentrations <300 ng/dL, hypogonadal symptoms, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) or increased CVD risk were enrolled in the TRAVERSE* trial. Of these, 1,161 with low libido were included in the Sexual Function Study (SFS) and randomized to receive 1.62% testosterone gel (n=587) or placebo gel (n=574) for the duration of their participation.

Change from baseline in sexual activity score was the primary endpoint, while secondary ones included hypogonadal symptoms, erectile function, and sexual desire.

The TRAVERSE study examined the effect of TRT on major adverse cardiovascular events in middle-aged and older men with hypogonadism. SFS, on the other hand, was nested within TRAVERSE and explored the efficacy of testosterone in improving sexual activity, hypogonadal symptoms, libido, and erectile functions among men reporting low libido.

*Testosterone Replacement therapy for Assessment of long-term Vascular Events and efficacy ResponSE in hypogonadal men