A recent study conducted among U.S. male veterans has revealed a significant link between testicular cancer survivorship and heightened risks of erectile dysfunction (ED) and testosterone deficiency (TD). The research, published in The Journal of Urology, analyzed 1,754 testicular cancer survivors and compared them with 7,117 men of similar age and race who had no cancer history. The findings underscore the critical importance of incorporating sexual and hormonal health evaluations into long-term care for cancer survivors.
The study, led by Dr. Aditya Bagrodia of Moores UCSD Cancer Center in California, noted that testicular cancer survivors were 2.8 times more likely to experience ED compared to their non-cancer counterparts. Within five years of diagnosis, 20.3% of survivors reported ED, a figure that climbed to 31.3% after a decade. In contrast, only 5.3% of the control group reported ED within five years, increasing to 11.7% after ten years. Men with advanced-stage (stage 3) testicular cancer demonstrated the highest susceptibility to ED.
Similarly, the incidence of TD was strikingly higher in survivors, who were found to be 6.8 times more likely to experience it. At five years, 13.1% of survivors had developed testosterone deficiency, increasing to 18.8% after ten years. This compares to just 1.2% and 2.9% in the non-cancer group over the same periods. While chemotherapy did not significantly influence these risks, other factors, such as retroperitoneal lymph node dissection and radiation therapy—which affect ejaculatory function—were not fully analyzed in the study.
Dr. Bagrodia emphasized the study’s implications: “Our findings highlight the significant risk of ED and TD in testicular cancer survivors, underscoring the necessity of integrating sexual and gonadal health assessments into survivorship care.”
The study serves as a call to action for healthcare providers to prioritize comprehensive care for testicular cancer survivors, addressing not only physical recovery but also long-term hormonal and sexual health to ensure a better quality of life.
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