Sexual Dysfunction

Drugs and devices in the pipeline from Actavis, Genomic Health, Lipella Pharmaceuticals, Polaris Group, Innocrin Pharmaceuticals, OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Heat Biologics, Repros Therapeutics, and Sophiris Bio.

Urology Times continues its "Year in Review" series with a look at the most-read men's health articles of 2014.

Results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase IV study provide further confirmation that the erectogenic effect of the phosphodiesterase-type-5 inhibitor avanafil (Stendra) has a quick onset.

Other products discussed in this article include a prosthesis for underactive bladder, a prostate cancer test, and an erectile dysfunction drug.

Long-term testosterone therapy in hypogonadal men appears to be safe and does not increase the risk of prostate cancer, according to a newly published analysis of three patient registries.

In separate actions, two pharmaceutical makers have acquired the rights to a novel testosterone agent and a patented formulation for interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome.

The European Medicines Agency has issued new recommendations regarding testosterone replacement therapy after reviewing the cardiovascular risks of TRT. The recommendations were endorsed by a regulatory body that is responsible for the marketing authorization of drugs throughout Europe.

Testosterone replacement therapy reduced men’s overall risks for death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and stroke, as well as for death alone in a study presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in Chicago.

Other products featured include a 16-slice CT scanner, new generic testosterone gel, prostate cancer risk calculator, and more.

Whatever the exact mechanism of the increase in desire for testosterone replacement therapy in men, knowing the risks and benefits of testosterone and its alternatives are vital skills for today’s practicing urologist. This article will focus on alternatives to testosterone therapy.

Drugs and devices in the pipeline from Repros Therapeutics, Bavarian Nordic, NxThera, Solace Therapeutics, Generex Biotechnology, Bioniche, OncoCyte, HistoSonics, and Pacific Edge.

In light the controversial studies linking testosterone replacement therapy to cardiovascular risks, three urologists discuss how their approach to prescribing TRT has (or hasn't) changed.

An FDA advisory committee has voted to restrict indications for testosterone replacement therapy and require additional clinical trials to test the safety of the drugs, decisions that have drawn mixed reactions from urologists.

Low testosterone is often blamed for a lower sex drive and potentially dangerous fat accumulation in men, however researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital report that a lack of estrogen is also to blame. Video provided by Renal & Urology News.

University of Utah Health Care - William O. Brant, M.D., discusses the causes and diagnosis of erectile dysfunction (ED).

This video presents a thorough description of all the treatment options available for erectile dysfunction, including their administration, benefits, and limitations.

In this first installment of UrologyTimes.com's new video section, called ‘Y’tube, we present videos from high-volume prosthetic surgeons performing inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) placement and discussing diagnosis and management of ED. William O. Brant, MD, offers the following general commentary about these procedures, as well as specific comments in the text accompanying each individual video.

Steven A. Kaplan, MD, introduces #LetsTalkMensHealth, a novel new section in Urology Times focused on men’s health.

Other products featured include a testosterone gel, exercise program to strengthen male pelvic muscles, and a book about prostate cancer diagnosis and management.

The Androgen Study Group has called upon the Journal Oversight Committee to investigate what it deemed violations of “accepted standards of medical journal ethics and editorial integrity” by JAMA.

Drugs and devices in the pipeline form Clarus Therapeutics, Nymox Pharmaceutical, Bioniche Life Sciences, Repros Therapeutics, BioLight Life Sciences Investments/Micromedic Technologies, Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Takeda Pharmaceutical, H. Lundbeck A/S, Transplant Genomics, Orion, Bayer, and Roche.

To gain an endocrinologist’s perspective on current issues in testosterone therapy and hypogonadism, Urology Times interviewed Rebecca Z. Sokol MD, MPH, professor of obstetrics and gynecology and medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.

All treatments entail some risk, including T therapy. At this point, there are no compelling data to support the notion that T therapy is associated with CV risks, and there is suggestive evidence it may even be helpful.

The FDA has rejected Public Citizen’s petition to have a black box warning placed on the labels of testosterone-containing drugs available in the United States.

Prospective, long-term follow-up in a large cohort of hypogonadal men treated with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) provides no evidence that TRT increases the risk for prostate cancer.

Symptomatic hypogonadal men treated with clomiphene citrate (Clomid) or testosterone gels report similar satisfaction levels as age-matched men treated with testosterone injections, despite having significantly lower serum total testosterone levels, according to the findings of a recent retrospective study from Baylor College of Medicine, Houston.

Testosterone replacement therapy has been much debated in recent months, in light of two studies linking the treatment to increased risk of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, and stroke, prompting an FDA investigation into TRT’s safety and widespread criticism from members of the urologic community. In this article, Ajay Nehra, MD, discusses those studies, evolving attitudes toward “low T,” and the importance of individualizing treatment.

Men are being too easily enticed lately into ill-advised use of testosterone supplementation. Even men with only minimal, vague complaints are promised a hormonal fountain of youth and ageless virility. Many potential candidates seem to be under the misconception that “T” replacement will boost or energize their natural testicular production. In fact, exogenous testosterone suppresses testicular function.

Landon Trost, MD, presents the take home messages on sexual function/dysfunction from the AUA annual meeting in Orlando, FL, including studies of clostridium collagenase histolyticum (CCH [XIAFLEX]).

Richard K. Lee, MD, MBA, presents the take home messages on BPH/LUTS from the AUA annual meeting in Orlando, FL.