Andrology and Male Infertility Fellowship

 

 

Introduction:

The modern management of male reproductive and sexual health requires an in-depth knowledge not only of surgery but also of imaging, biopsy techniques, pathology, endocrinology, radiology and basic science. The andrology fellowship is designed to enhance the basic knowledge of the management of male sexual health and reproductive health acquired by a urology trainee.

Saudi Arabia has an estimated population of 25.7 million; some recent studies estimated around 20 per cent high prevalence of infertility in both men and women in Saudi Arabia. At the same time erectile dysfunction is a major health problem among Saudi males with an estimated prevalence of 45.1%, 50% of them are severe form. Andrology and Male Infertility is a subspecialty with great need in this community. Currently, no structured Andrology fellowship program existed in Saudi Arabia. We believe the educational opportunity, which will be offered, by King Khalid University Hospital Andrology and Male Infertility Fellowship will provide a firm foundation in the management of Andrologic Men's health problems and help mastering the complexities of andrology practice which should assist a fellow to rise to leadership roles within the Urologic community.

KKUH is a tertiary referral hospital receiving a large number of such cases and is equipped with all the necessary tools for the success of such fellowship.

 

I.Objective:

- Construction of a high standard andrology and male infertility fellowship.

- This fellowship will be a competency-based training. CanMEDs roles will be utilized to structure the objectives of the training. Because this is the first Andrology fellowship to create in Saudi Arabia, a special attention will be made in order to define and establish the appropriate objectives for medical experts meet the community requirements at Saudi Arabia.

 

II.Duration of fellowship:

- 2 years.

- The program begins on January 1 and ends on December 31 of the second year.

 

III.Fellow Appointment:

A. Eligibility Criteria:

Fellows must have completed a urology training program accredited by SCFHS/KSU.

The following documents are required:

•      KSU Andrology and Male Infertility Fellowship Application

•      Updated Curriculum Vitae

•      Three letters of recommendation

 B.  Number of Fellows:

   One fellow is appointed each training period (each year).

 

IV.Educational Program:

Most of the Fellowship is a one-on-one learning experience. This is accomplished by assigning the Fellow to the attending staff. While with this attending, the Fellow's schedule mirrors the both attending staffs schedule which is two days a week in the clinic, two days a week in the operating room, and one day free to pursue research and prepare for conferences. This allows a very close exposure to the attendings' thought processes regarding clinical evaluation and test ordering, decision making in the clinic, preoperative counseling and preparation, intra-operative decision making and post-operative decision making involving  wound  care,  precautions, and follow up plans.

Andrology Fellow is required to complete at least one research projects during the fellowship and formally present this during an annual Department Research Day or any national or international Urologic/Andrologic meeting.

 

A.Curriculum:

1. Fellow will attend half-day academic program every week.
2. Two clinics per week (at least).
3. Two full operative days per week.
4. Rest of the week will be spend in research.
5. Fellow is mandated to attend andrology club meeting done every month.
6. Areas that the program will focus on are CanMeds roles.

 

       Knowledge Base:

• Evaluation and management of erectile function and dysfunction.
• Erectile dysfunction risk assessment.
• Male infertility risk assessment.
• Male infertility genetics.
• Screening and diagnostic radiographic and ultrasound techniques.
• Natural history and pathology of erectile dysfunction and male infertility.
• Selection of local therapy, contraindications and expected outcomes in treatment of erectile dysfunction.
• Selection of local therapy, contraindications for treatment of testicular failure and infertility.
• Consequences of systemic treatments on erectile function and testicular function.
• Effect of systemic chemotherapy and endocrine therapy on reproductive health and sexual health.
• Preoperative workup and postoperative management of surgical patients with sexual dysfunction.
• Preoperative workup and postoperative management of post-surgery testicular biopsy imaging techniques.
• Psychosocial and legal aspects of erectile dysfunction and reproductive health.

 

       Skills:

• Doppler ultrasound of penile arteries.
• Dynamic infusion cavernosography and cavernosometry.
• Penile reconstruction using a variety of autologous and non-autologous materials.
• Techniques for implantation of the complicated penile prosthesis and revision.
• Ultrasound and MR imaging of testicular and vasal abnormalities.
• Biopsy techniques of testis.
• Percutaneous and open microsurgical sperm retrieval techniques.
• Management of varicocele techniques.
• Microscopic interpretation of testicular pathology.
• Microscopic reconstruction of obstructive azoospermia.

  

Certification:

Candidates passing the final board examination are awarded a Specialty Certificate, “King Saud University Andrology and Male Infertility Fellowship”.