title: Injectable testosterone undecanoate for the treatment of hypogonadism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Injectable testosterone undecanoate (TU) is a long-acting testosterone (T) formulation available for the treatment of male hypogonadism (HG) since 2003.
  
  
  METHODS
  The efficacy and safety of injectable TU are assessed, as obtained by meta-analyzing available evidence. An extensive Medline, Embase and Cochrane search was performed. All uncontrolled and placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials (RCTs), evaluating the effect of injectable TU on different outcomes, were included. Of the 98 retrieved articles, 33 were included in the study. Among those, 11 were placebo-controlled RCTs. Injectable TU was significantly associated with a reduction of fat mass and HbA1c in both controlled and uncontrolled trials, in particular when hypogonadal subjects were enrolled. Similar results were observed for the improvement of erectile function. In addition, TU ameliorated several other outcomes, including blood pressure, lipid profile, waist circumference and body mass index in uncontrolled studies, but these data were not confirmed in placebo-controlled trials. The treatment was well tolerated and no risk of prostate cancer or cardiovascular disease was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Injectable TU is a safe and effective treatment for male HG. The possibility of a therapeutic intervention just four to five times per year frees the patient, at least partially, from having a chronic condition, thus maintaining a positive, active role in self-caring.
authors: Azienda-Usl Bologna, Maggiore-Bellaria Hospital, Medical Department, Endocrinology Unit , Bologna , Italy.
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Corona
authors: Elisa
authors: E
authors: Maseroli
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Maggi
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D013739:Testosterone; C010792:testosterone undecanoate
keywords: erectile dysfunction; obesity; testosterone undecanoate; weight loss