He stared back at me, his face blank. He didn’t like my answer. We had examined the known genetic causes of azoospermia and had come up dry. “I really don’t know why you’re azoospermic, but I’d say it’s still very likely to be genetic, but currently undefined.” Not much to work with, but it’s where we are at...Continue reading
Tag: fertility
The Anatomy of the Ejaculate
Here’s a million dollar question: From whence does the ejaculate come? The word “semen” is actually Latin, derived from “cemani” meaning “juice.” Great, Doc, but where does the juice actually come from? A Complex Sauce Fluids from several different body organs mix and mingle before being expelled as ejaculate. The much-maligned prostate, a reliable cause of urination issues with age,...Continue reading
A Sperm Making Thing-a-ma-bob
You can patent a widget, or even a doohickey. Dr Seuss probably could have patented the yuzz-a-ma-tuzz, the diffendoofer, the wumbus and the wocket from his children’s books. But can you really patent an artificial human testicle? We did. Very recently, in fact. The issue notice has duly arrived, just in time for Father’s Day! Yessiree, just 6 sweaty years after we submitted the...Continue reading
A Dozen Great Father’s Day Gifts
Girls, you know perfectly well how this story goes. It’s simple: Men live longer when partnered. And now that Dad’s Day is coming up, what do you get him? Cufflinks? Another necktie? A larger shirt? How about something completely different, and possible life extending? Remember, YOU are the key to his longevity.
Know Before You Go: Sperm FNA Mapping
You know that the food is good when guests ask for more. That’s why I am absolutely delighted at the invitation from my urological colleagues to lecture about sperm FNA mapping at the annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Male Reproduction (SSMR) in Orlando, Florida this week.
Sperm from Skin? Almost!
Can skin be turned into sperm? The answer is “yes” in mice and “almost” in man. Yup, we are one small step closer to the holy grail of making sperm from stem cells. And this time, it looks like it might happen using stem cells that are widely available for men. What’s the Buzz? You know that I am obsessed with helping men...Continue reading
The Reproductive Riff on Paternal Age
Thought you might like to know about this. While preparing for my speech to the American Urological Association next month on the risks of being an older dad, I came across this pretty compelling research relating a father’s age to autism in children. Autism Speaks Name the fastest growing serious developmental disorder in the U.S. Correct, it’s...Continue reading
Sperm + (Heart)x2 = Father
“Doc, should I bank my sperm to protect my heirs from going mad?” Wow, now that’s a question. He was wondering how he should handle the now credible link between older dads and their kids having higher rates of autism, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Although small, the increase in these conditions in offspring of older dads is significant, and guys...Continue reading
Masturbation: Part 2 – What Not to Do
Masturbation technique is a highly individualistic topic. Most men figured out how to give themselves an orgasm during puberty. Early on, men tend to fixate on one technique to reach climax and that becomes their technique. It’s what they do. It’s comfortable, it’s reassuring, it’s dependable, and it always works. A guy’s personal technique, discovered...Continue reading
A Day in the Life of the Epididymis
The epididymis has been on my mind recently. The Epi-WHAT-amus? What is that? Well, for one, it’s probably the shortest 5-syllable word you’ve ever heard. And, it happens to be the name of an organ that can spell the difference between being a fertile or infertile guy.