Is There an Association Between Sperm Parameters and Sexual Orientation? A Cross Sectional Study

ObjectiveTo evaluate whether sexual orientation affects sperm parameters.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study using existing data from an academic reproductive centre for the period of April 01, 2009, to March 31, 2021. We compared the results of sperm analysis from male patients who were in same-sex relationships (study group) with those of men in heterosexual relationships who did not have male-factor infertility (control group). A subsequently comparison of both groups with World Health Organization (WHO) reference values was also performed.ResultsThirty-nine samples from the study group were compared with 494 samples from the control group. All parameters, apart from morphology, were comparable. The median sperm concentrations were 64 (interquartile range [IQR] 32.1–102.9) million/mL and 50.1 (IQR 25.3–92.5) million/mL in the study and control groups, respectively (P = 0.252), whereas the median percentage of progressive motile sperm was 50% (IQR 34–65) in the study group and 52% (IQR 33–65) in the control group (P = 0.198). The median percentage of morphologically normal sperm was higher in the control group than in the study group (6% vs. 5%; P = 0.019). However, no significant difference was found when sperm morphology was dichotomized with the cut-off of ≥4% (74.1% and 74.4%, respectively; P = 0.966). When compared with the WHO reference group, the percentage of men with total motile sperm counts ≥10 million and the percentage of men with normal morphology were significantly lower in both groups.ConclusionOur study suggests that there is no relationship between sexual orientation and sperm parameters.     

The effects and prospects of the integration of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine on andrology in China

Andrology has a long history in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) discussions concerning andropathies, and documentation of relevant therapeutic methods abound in the ancient literature on TCM. Integrated treatment combining TCM and Western medicine has seen both broad and in-depth development, with formidable status in the field of modern andrology in China. This article attempts to demonstrate the unique advantage of integrated treatment in the therapy of andropathies through a review of the ancient literature on andrology in the field of TCM and on the integrative treatment of prostatic diseases, sexual dysfunction, male infertility and late-onset hypogonadism. There is a need for the advancement of a medical theory that integrates TCM and Western medicine practices to create a new therapeutic system with standardized therapeutic and evaluative protocols for diseases involving male sexual health.     

试述男子性焦虑的中医观

性焦虑是男科疾病中常见症状，即可造成心理负担，又可加重病而不能自拔，治疗上较为棘手。本文从中医角度分析提出：（1）因情郁致病是主要的常见病因；（2）五脏之变重在心肝二脏；（3）痰郁为病理产物；三者可相互影响，互为因果，造成郁而不达。作者列出相应的治法方药，同时强调心病还须心药治等综合措施。     

周细胞在泌尿生殖系统中的作用

周细胞又称为壁细胞、Rouget细胞,是构成微血管壁的主要细胞之一。它不仅对血管的成熟、稳定及功能的维持起重要作用,同时也在机体各组织器官的生长发育、创伤修复等生理病理过程中发挥重要作用。周细胞功能的研究主要集中在细胞多能性、血管功能调节、纤维化过程等方面,在泌尿外科学领域主要表现在肾纤维化、肾血流调节、肾小球滤过等,而男科学领域的相关研究较欠缺。本文就周细胞的定位和来源、分布及形态、细胞标志物和功能等进行综述,为男科学领域周细胞的进一步研究指明方向。     

男科学的走向——从疾病主导走向以健康为主导

当前男科学发展的一个重要动向是从疾病为主导走向以健康为主导的男科学 ,一个重要的任务是树立男性生殖健康的整体观 ,然后根据维护与促进男性生殖健康的需要 ,确立男科学的范畴与主要研究领域。对以健康为主导的男科学中的 3个领域 ,即分子男科学、老年男科学以及环境与男性生殖进行了评述与展望     

A snapshot of intralesional verapamil injection in the treatment of Peyronie's disease today

Studies assessing the efficacy of intralesional verapamil injection in the treatment of Peyronie's disease have yielded mixed results. The purpose of this meta‐analysis is to systematise the existing literature on the efficacy of intralesional verapamil injection when used in the treatment of Peyronie's disease. The treatment outcomes of seven different study groups identified by computerised literature search were compared with natural history outcomes and data from control groups of three studies involving placebo saline injection. An exploratory meta‐analysis was performed on the data due to differing patient populations, treatment protocols, and inconsistent selection and reporting of outcomes. Intralesional verapamil injection significantly improved sexual function (p < .0005) and penile curvature (p < .005) in individuals with Peyronie's disease. Decreases in pain may be significant after therapy but are questionable. The effect of verapamil on plaque size remains less impressive (p > .05). Intralesional verapamil injection has promise to positively impact a number of clinical outcomes of Peyronie's disease; however, a large, multicentre, randomised, controlled study with reliable protocols is needed to confirm the efficacy of treatment.     

《世界卫生组织人类精液分析实验室技术手册》与我国男科实验室现状

2010年出版的《世界卫生组织人类精液分析实验室技术手册》第5版是最为全面的一次修订。本文结合我国男科实验室精液分析的现状,从包括精子计数、精子活力、精子形态学、精子功能、抗精子抗体和精浆生化、以及精液分析的质量保证与质量控制等7个方面,对新出版的WHO手册进行了评论。笔者认为,该手册对精子浓度分析方法和参考值下调的推荐缺乏循证医学依据;精子活力分级标准的修订和精子形态学的严格标准和较低的4%的正常参考值与我国男科实验室目前使用的标准差距较大;精子功能指标尚未完善;抗精子抗体和精浆生化指标的检测方法显然不适合我国男科实验室现状;但精液分析的质量保证和质量控制对我国男科实验室有重要指导作用。需要指出的是,WHO手册中并没有涉及来自占世界人口1/5的中国人的任何临床数据和资料。因此,尽管WHO手册非常重要,它能否适应中国人精液分析实验室参考,仍需要评估。     

传统社会中医男科医学不成气候的性别因素与中医理论认知的改变

传统社会,中医男科往往依附于妇科或其他科别。其原因在于传统社会的男科被内科所取代,且社会认为男人不会生病的错觉,难以刺激男科专业化;男外女内的认知,也使求子、胎教被列于妇科来处理,男科就没有存在的必要。这种情形,改变了中医阴阳平衡、普世关怀、对身体的谦抑思想等观念。