The Application of Hyaluronic Acid Injections in Functional and Aesthetic Andrology: A Narrative Review

• Published in: Gels Vol. 9; no. 2; p. 118
• Main Authors: Schifano, Nicolò, Capogrosso, Paolo, Antonini, Gabriele, Baldini, Sara, Scroppo, Fabrizio, Salonia, Andrea, Zerbinati, Nicola, Dehò, Federico
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01-02-2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Current injection; Extracellular matrix; Glycosaminoglycans; Hyaluronic acid; Literature reviews; Males; Patients; penile girth enlargement; Penis; Peyronie’s disease; premature ejaculation; Review; Sexual disorders; penile girth enlargement; premature ejaculation; Peyronie’s disease; hyaluronic acid
• ISSN: 2310-2861; 2310-2861
• DOI: 10.3390/gels9020118

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan widely utilised in different fields of medicine. We aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the scientific evidence on the use of HA in andrology. A review of the literature to identify pertinent studies concerning the use of HA in andrology was carried out on the Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane databases, with no time restriction up to December 2022. Penile girth enlargement (PGE) using HA proved to be safe and effective in enhancing the diameter of the penis, with durable and satisfactory outcomes in long-term follow-up. Injection of HA in the glans seems to represent an alternative treatment option for those patients with premature ejaculation (PE) who fail to respond to conventional medications. HA intra-plaque injections represent a valid option which may contribute to restore sexual activity in patients with Peyronie's disease (PD). The adoption of HA filler injections should always be tailored to the patient's peculiar anatomy and underlying condition. More robust evidence is required to achieve a uniformed consensus regarding the use of HA in andrology, and further efforts should continue to improve the current injection techniques and HA products.