Hypogonadism is associated with a wide range of physical and psychological symptoms that can affect the overall health of men. However, in a developing country, there are several imposing challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of hypogonadism, including a lack of awareness and understanding of the condition among healthcare providers and patients, limited resources and the high cost of treatment. This review aimed to examine the potential benefits and risks of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and provides a perspective of a developing country on the topic. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to gather relevant information on the impact of testosterone deficiency on ageing males and the effectiveness of TRT for treating hypogonadism. Published peer-reviewed articles were analyzed to evaluate the benefits and risks of TRT. Additionally, the unique challenges faced in the diagnosis and treatment of hypogonadism in a developing country were considered. Testosterone replacement therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment for hypogonadism, particularly in symptomatic men with low testosterone levels. It offers potential benefits such as improvements in symptoms and overall quality of life. However, there are associated risks and side effects that need to be considered. In a developing country, challenges such as limited awareness and understanding of hypogonadism, resource constraints, and high treatment costs pose additional barriers to accessing TRT and comprehensive care. In conclusion, TRT holds promise as a treatment for hypogonadism, but its implementation and accessibility face significant challenges in a developing country. Addressing these challenges, including raising awareness, allocating resources, and finding cost-effective solutions, is crucial for ensuring that men with hypogonadism in such settings receive appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Further research and efforts are needed to improve the management of hypogonadism in developing countries and optimize the potential benefits of TRT for affected individuals.

Testicular size is an important parameter to investigate male reproductive and sexual functions. However, diagnosis and treatments are hindered by the lack of country-specific standard values for testicular volume. We conducted the present retrospective chart review study on 24,440 men who sought consultation at Andrology and Sexual Medicine—Hanoi Medical University Hospital to provide a reference range of testicular volume and to determine the correlations between testicular volume, age and hormonal profiles. These men were classified into groups being healthy fathers, hypogonadal men, unexplained infertile men, men with unknown fertility, testicular pathologies and other andrological condition groups. Hypogonadal men and unexplained infertile men had significantly smaller testicular sizes compared with healthy fathers. The mean value of testicular volume of healthy subjects was 13.64 ± 3.44 ml (left testis: 13.94 ± 3.72 ml; right testis: 13.34 ± 3.61 ml; p < 0.001). Testicular size of Vietnamese men was negatively correlated with LH and FSH (Rho = −0.16 and −0.33, p < 0.001) and positively correlated with testosterone after adjusting for confounding factors. Testicular volume was independent of the subject's age and smoking habits.

To explore the microbial etiology of urethritis in Vietnamese men and the association with patients’ characteristics, especially their sexual behaviors.This study was conducted on 349 men who prese...

Le BD, et al. Investig Clin Urol. 2024 Sep;65(5):511-517. https://doi.org/10.4111/icu.20240275

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of digital flexible ureteroscopy in the management of lower pole stones and to assess patients' postoperative quality of life. Methods: A longitudinal, single-center, nonrandomized cohort study was conducted on patients with renal calculi eligible for flexible ureteroscopy. The study population comprised 44 patients diagnosed with treatment of lower pole stones who underwent treatment at Bach Mai Hospital between January 2023 and October 2024. Surgical outcomes, including surgery duration, stone-free rate, duration of hospitalization, surgical complications, and quality of life, were evaluated and monitored during the follow-up period. Results: The mean age of the patients was 51.4 years, and the mean stone size was 13.7 mm. Immediately postoperative stone-free rates were 79.5 %, 77.3 % at 1-month and 68.2 % at 3-month. The mean operative time was 73.4 minutes, the lithotripsy duration was 55.7 minutes, and the average hospital stay was 5.7 days. Only 1 minor complication (2.3%) was recorded. The quality-of-life scores significantly improved over time (p < 0.001), with most patients reporting no disruption to daily activities after 1 month. Conclusions: Single-use digital flexible ureteroscopy is a safe and effective modality for managing lower pole renal stones, offering high stone-free rates, low complication rates, and significant improvements in patient quality of life. Further large-scale, controlled studies are needed to confirm these findings and evaluate long-term outcomes.