The American Society of Andrology is a medical educational organization dedicated to expanding knowledge in the field of male health. Research is discussed, and papers and posters, submitted by physician and non physician members are reviewed and a subset are selected for presentation. I had the good fortune to have had my poster selected; it was entitled: Sperm Fertilizing Ability Can Be Significantly Improved Through a Protocol Designed to Improve Overall Health”. In this poster, I discuss the ability to significantly improve Cap-Score (a measure of sperm function) in almost half of men recommended to try certain lifestyle and nutritional changes. See the photo included in this blog.
In any meeting, there are sponsors from industry and they are eager to share information about their products. Tables from the following vendors were present:
Progyny: an insurance specifically concerned with covering patients for their fertility care. I recently joined Progyny’s panel as an expert in Male Fertility and am eager to help care for their patients.
Fellows: the maker of a mail-in semen analysis kit and also post vasectomy analysis.
Reprosource: also the maker of a mail-in semen analysis kit. I anticipate both Fellows and ReproSource may help me with testing for my patients who live far from my office and who might also appreciate the convenience of a mail in test.
Tolmar pharmaceuticals: the maker of several urologic products, but, relevant to this meeting, the maker of a testosterone replacement pill.
Boreas: the makers of an alarm system for liquid nitrogen tanks in a sperm bank or IVF facility monitoring when levels go too low.
Fertilix, the makers of a micronutrient supplement that is tailored to the level of dosage needed by the specific patient.
Hamilton thorn: the makers of an automated system for semen analysis and for DNA fragmentation testing.
Also present were representatives from Seattle sperm bank and from Reprotech.
Lectures at the meeting covered a variety of topics including the genetic and epigenetic basis of male infertility, the effect of environmental exposures including smoke from forest fires as well as lifestyle effects of exposure to cannabis as well as alcohol not only on male fertility but also on offspring.
Genetics of infertility extended to topics of different types of RNA including TsRNA and Rs RNA, epigenetics and utilization of a model of chromosomal fusion. Again, some sample photos are included.
I learned a great deal at this meeting and I intend to bring back the knowledge and resources I’ve gained to improve the care I and my staff offer to our patients.
