Andrology, fertility protection and fertility treatment
Andrology is the science that deals with sexual development, the practice of the sexuality and male fertility. In addition, we diagnose and treat male hormonal diseases and growth disorders. We offer the entire spectrum of surgical therapy for andrological disorders. This includes procedures to straighten a penile curvature (Induratio penis plastica, IPP) either by shortening seams on the opposite site of the penis (Nesbit’s procedure) or by excision of the affected tissue and covering the defect with collagen fleece (grafting procedure). In andrological consultations we advise men who suffer from erectile dysfunction about drug therapy to make a fulfilling sex life possible. We also treat patients with premature ejaculation (Ejaculatio praecox).
Men with an unfulfilled wish to have children receive advice in our andrology consultation (link). In many cases of limited fertility, it is also necessary to analyze certain genes or chromosomes that are associated with male fertility, which can be carried out by the Institute for Clinical Genetics (link). If there is no sperm detected in the ejaculate, spermatozoa can be obtained directly from the testicles during a procedure called TESE (testicular sperm extraction). Subsequently Intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro-fertilisation (IVF) can be performed.
For adolescents and men who are at risk of losing their fertility due to upcoming chemotherapy or radiation therapy we offer prophylactic cryopreservation (freezing) of sperm or germ cell tissue. According to the legal regulation, there is often an entitlement to benefits from the statutory health insurance company. Consultation, analysis and implementation of fertility protection is only permitted in clinics and laboratories that have received official approval for this purpose. This is the case for our institution. The tissue laboratory of our urological department (link) can freeze removed and donated tissue and make it available for later artificial insemination. As part of a cooperation with the fertility center of the gynecological clinic (link), we are support couples in fulfilling their wish to have children. Further information is available here (link).
Our andrological center enables not only comprehensive laboratory diagnostics and clinical and technical examinations of patients suspected of having a hormonal disorders or developmental disorders in the adolescent man, but also therapy with hormone-active drugs to correct the corresponding deficit. For patients with complex hormonal disorders the diagnostic steps and the initiation of therapy are carried out in close coordination with the local Department of Endocrinology, Geriatrics and Bone Metabolism (link)