Marijuana is becoming all the rage among the government types and politicos, as a chance to win votes. There are countless (non scientific and unfounded) articles portraying the great benefit to society of increased marijuana availability, as well as its purported harmlessness. I am personally very concerned over the panacea that has taken hold, ignorant...Continue reading
Tag: fertility
Treatment options for patients with ejaculatory dysfunction
By, Matthew Coward, M.D., Department of Urology, University of North Carolina Despite much less attention than erectile dysfunction and other male fertility problems, ejaculatory dysfunction can be one of the most frustrating sexual symptoms a patient can experience.. The purpose of ejaculation is to deposit sperm into the vagina for reproduction, and most men...Continue reading
Diabetes And Male Infertility: What Are The Concerns?
By Matthew A. Pierce, MD and Edmund Y. Ko, MD Diabetes is a worldwide epidemic with significant impacts on multiple aspects of men’s health. 3.5 in every 1000 reproductive aged men (18-45 years old) in the United States are living with diabetes (1). While it is true that many Americans are aware of diabetes’ impact...
The Role of Sperm DNA Fragmentation in the Evaluation of the Male Fertility Patient
DNA is the genetic information contained in all cells, including sperm. Intact sperm DNA is necessary for normal egg fertilization (1, 2). Sperm that has DNA with breaks in the strands is abnormal, and is called “DNA fragmentation” This may cause sperm to function poorly and is not measured by the standard semen analysis. There...
Factors For a Good Prognosis In Patients Undergoing Vasectomy Reversal
So what are the factors we can influence in order to get the best results for patients undergoing a vasectomy reversal? There are actually two different surgeries for vasectomy reversal: vasovasostomy (vas to vas) and epididymovasostomy (vas to the epididymis). The surgical approach any patient needs can only be determined at the time of surgery. Selecting...Continue reading
IVF and Sperm: When They Need Each Other
I just finished his sperm retrieval and told him the good news: “If sperm were money, you’d be retired. You have enough sperm for many IVF cycles.” He smiled and then it fell away in thought. After a pause, he said: “If I have so much sperm, why can’t we do something simple and use...Continue reading
Measure Twice, Cut Once
The case of the year is an actual patient of The Turek Clinic (identity protected). They hailed from Cairo, Egypt. Maybe it was a karma-thing but, as a couple, they were as gracious and timeless as the nearby Giza pyramids. They were also desperate to have children and exhausted by what they had gone through for his diagnosis of azoospermia....Continue reading
Build it Once, Build it Right
I just got the photo of the newest little one. And the warm thank you note along with it. Makes me feel that just maybe, my work on this good earth makes a difference. What’s special about this birth announcement is that it is the third baby after the vasectomy reversal. Now that’s value! And...Continue reading
Fatherhood with Klinefelters
What’s the most common definable cause of azoospermia among infertile men? Here’s a hint: it’s also pretty common in general, occurring in 1/500 male births. Answer: Klinefelter syndrome. Men who have it possess an extra X chromosome in every cell in their bodies. It’s inherited, and about equally so from mothers and fathers. The fact is that most men don’t know about...Continue reading
Cycling Toward Childlessness?
She looks at me earnestly, searching for approval and says: “I’ve made sure that he stopped bicycling as I have read that it’s bad for his fertility, right?” Not so fast. Saddle Sore There is hard data to suggest that bicycling long enough can impair erections, especially if the saddle results in pelvic numbness. But fertility? Not the...Continue reading