What is andrology?
The fact that men and women are practically equally involved in a childless marriage with their fertility disorders has necessitated the creation of andrology as a new direction in medical and preventive activities. Andrology is currently one of the dynamically developing disciplines in world medicine. In addition to male infertility, it addresses the issue of male erectile dysfunction and male contraception.
As an organic part of urology, it should be emphasized that andrology works closely with other medical disciplines, especially gynecology. Without this cooperation, the activity of andrology cannot be imagined. Thus, andrology could also be called male gynecology.
Male infertility
Of the total number of 2505 of our new patients in 2005, 1193 were examined for infertility. About half of the patients in our outpatient clinic are patients with infertility problems, and about half have male erectile dysfunction.
The average duration of infertility in our patients is four years, ranging from one to 14 years, and the average age of infertile patients: 31 years, ranging from 20 to 40 years.
In the past, it was exclusively a woman who sought help and treatment from a doctor in case of a problem with the pregnancy. This is confirmed by the fact that most research was focused on the treatment of female infertility.
Recent advances and new medical knowledge in the field of infertility treatment have changed this view. Research around the world confirms that a man causes 40-60% of a couple’s infertility. This fact emphasizes the need to examine men, as well as women.
A thorough examination of male fertility is a necessary first step to successful infertility treatment. The care of a man from an infertile couple is taken over by a specialist doctor – an andrologist, a specialist in the examination and treatment of male infertility. Analysis of male fertility includes a complete history and physical examination, including examination of blood and semen. Further examination and treatment depend on the results of this necessary examination.
Thus, infertility cannot be seen only as a problem of a woman or a man but as a couple’s problem. The idea that only a woman is “to blame” for the cause of infertility is a distant past. A comprehensive anthological examination of a man from an infertile couple is the first condition and basis for successful treatment of the couple.
This is necessary for several reasons:
- male fertility disorder may signal another severe male disease (fertility is a mirror of a man’s health)
- depending on the andrological finding, the methodology of assisted reproduction comes into consideration
- Techniques for obtaining sperm suitable for fertilization from the epididymis and testis and treatment of sperm right for fertilization fall within the andrologist’s competence.
Current assisted reproduction techniques, including IVF, GIFT, ICSI (often referred to as in vitro fertilization), and other egg and sperm handling techniques, can solve many infertility cases. However, these techniques are expensive. They are not directly about treating a man, about improving his fertility, but they solve the problem by bypassing the basic problem.
For most infertile men, cheaper pharmacological treatment is still used successfully. Its combination with the equally more cost-effective appropriate pharmacological treatment of women helps us achieve the highest possible pregnancy percentage. Also, people prefer a quiet home environment to the birth of a child over a medical facility’s stressful environment.
Research in high-living countries confirms that most reproductive disorders are caused by the deteriorating environment, industrial chemicals, and civilization factors: from smoking to drugs to stress.
Male erectile dysfunction:
What does it look like in patients with male erectile dysfunction who go to our clinic?
- Age of patients: 18-74 years
- Mean age: 55 years
Facts about Effective Dysfunction (Ed)
Definition of ED: ED is the persistent inability to obtain and maintain a penile erection sufficient for satisfactory physical intercourse.
- ED is a more accurate, correct, and less pejorative term than impotence.
- Impotence is a much broader term that includes problems with erection and problems with libido (physical desire), ejaculation, or problems reaching orgasm (climax).
- In 1995, about 152 million people had problems with ED worldwide. Men, in 2025 the incidence of ED is expected to increase to 322 mils. Men.
- Some degree of ED affects up to 50% of men.
- With increasing age, the incidence of ED increases as risk factors for ED increase: obesity, diabetes, hypertension, elevated cholesterol levels, atherosclerosis, which impair the function of the cardiovascular system.
- Psychological pain from ED can be more devastating than the physical problems of chronic physical illness.
- Only one in ten men with ED goes to the doctor!
Causes:
Men do not spontaneously complain about this delicate problem; they are ashamed to talk about ED, they consider ED to be a typical manifestation of aging, they do not know that there are effective drugs that will solve their problem.
Doctors do not actively ask about this common problem; there is insufficient education in this area at medical faculties. Instead, the emphasis is on the issue of cancer, diseases of the cardiovascular system, diabetes.
There is a lack of objective information on proven, genuinely useful ways to treat physical problems.
The relationship between ED and depression is crossed: 50-90% of patients with depression have a reduced interest in love and vice versa: ED leads to an increased incidence of depression.
Effect of alcohol on ED:
- up to 0.5 per mille stimulates an erection; higher levels have a damping effect
- chronic alcoholism causes hormonal disorders and nerve damage, leading to ED
Can erectile dysfunction be treated?
Yes, most cases of ED can be treated, regardless of the cause. We have a wide range of options at our disposal, ranging from more superficial to more complex. These are pills like Fildena 100, Fildena 120, injections, vacuum pumps, and organ prostheses. Each method’s choice is strictly individual and depends on the exact diagnosis of ED and is not suitable for everyone. A doctor’s consultation is required before starting any treatment.
How do I talk regarding ED with my partner?
It is optimal to sit back with your partner and talk about how ED affects your relationship. This way, you get to know your feelings and let your partner know that you want to improve the current relationship in the interests of both. Openness can bring you even closer. Most partners are happy to help with treatment; their support is essential for men.
Can my partner come for an examination with me?
Of course. Because ED affects both, you will both have a clear idea of the problem and available treatment methods by meeting with your doctor. You can discuss them and decide together on the procedure that suits you and your partner best.
Is there a habit of medication used to treat ED?
No, drugs that are officially registered in our country for the treatment of ED are not addictive substances.
What are the most effective and most commonly used ED pills?
The most commonly used and most effective tablets today are the so-called type 5 phosphodiesterase inhibitors. Now you may have thought that you had never heard of such pills. You may have heard of the purple pills Fildena 150, the blue pill, and the red pill vigora 100, as laymen often call them. Thus, these are the three tablets that are currently most commonly used in the treatment of stop disorder (ED). Therefore, let’s talk about them in more detail. These pills are for prescription only. Physical stimulation is needed to achieve a reaction after their use, thus enabling an erection to be completed naturally. After orgasm, the erection naturally decreases. On the contrary, they differ significantly, for example, in the duration of their effectiveness, and each of them thus provides a different time-space for loving after use.