Effect of androgen deprivation therapy after radical prostatectomy on urinary symptoms.

This article focuses on the impact of salvage intermittent androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) on urinary symptoms in patients experiencing biochemical recurrence (BCR) after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) for prostate cancer. The retrospective study found that ADT significantly worsened urinary storage symptoms, such as urgency and frequency, without improving voiding symptoms, particularly in patients with higher pre-ADT testosterone levels (≥400 ng/dL). While ADT reduces prostate volume, its associated testosterone deficiency may decrease bladder blood flow and muscle mass, potentially exacerbating storage symptoms and stress urinary incontinence. These findings highlight the importance of counseling patients about possible urinary symptom worsening during ADT, especially those with higher baseline testosterone.