Testicular Function after Radiotherapy for Rectal Cancer-A Review

Current data generate three hypotheses: (i) during long‐course radiotherapy for rectal cancer, the testes can be exposed to direct and/or scattered radiation; (ii) men treated with radiotherapy seem at risk to develop testicular dysfunction with decreased serum testosterone levels compared with both pretreatment values and men treated with surgery alone; and (iii) a decrease in testosterone levels (<8 nmol/L) may precipitate specific symptoms caused by testosterone deficiency such as impaired physical, psychological, and sexual function after treatment. Buchli C, Martling A, Arver S, and Holm T. Testicular function after radiotherapy for rectal cancer-A review. J Sex Med 2011;8:3220-3226.