Effect of estradiol on the severity of lower urinary tract symptoms in men

Objective : The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between estradiol (E2) level and the severity of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men. Materials and Methods: This study involved 82 patients suffering from LUTS for >1 month, with age ranged from 36 to 85 years old who attended Basra General Hospital outpatient clinic of urological surgery seeking for management. The medical and surgical histories were taken through special questionnaire and the severity of LUTS was assessed using the international prostate symptom score (IPSS). General and urological examinations were conducted to them. Four milliliters of venous blood was drawn from each patient to measure luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), E2, and prostate-specific antigen and the results were used to assess the presence of any association with IPSS or prostate volume. Furthermore, fasting blood sugar, blood urea, serum creatinine, and thyroid-stimulating hormone were measured to identify unknown diabetic patients and exclude those with renal failure or thyrotoxicosis. Results : The IPSS, irritative, obstructive, and bother scores were (13.9 ± 9.4), (5.6 ± 4.6), (6.6 ± 4.4), and (2.99 ± 1.91), respectively. Mean serum FSH, LH, and E2 were (11.0 ± 12.6) mIU/ml, (6.26 ± 5.40) mIU/ml, and (39.9 ± 23.3) pg/ml, respectively. There were no correlations in the current study between gonadotropins and IPSS or any of its subgroups, but men with moderate-to-severe LUTS tended to have a significantly lower mean of FSH (P < 0.05). E2 didnot correlate with age or prostate volume. E2 showed significant associations and correlations with the IPSS, irritative, and bother scores, and these correlations persisted after adjustment for age and prostate volume. Conclusion : E2 has a significant relationship with LUTS severity and may act as an independent risk factor for LUTS.