Men's Sexual and Reproductive Health
RESOURCESVIDEOS
Low Testosterone
Dr. Thomas Masterson, a Board-Certified Urologist with a fellowship in Male Reproductive and Sexual Medicine, is a leading expert in male reproductive medicine, testosterone management, and erectile dysfunction. His expertise will guide us in an in-depth discussion on the mechanics of hypogonadism and the functions of testosterone, along with current and emerging therapeutic options and the pros and cons of hormone replacement therapy.
Video length: 39:16 minutes
Functional Health & Hormones
Dr. Anthony Evans is a doctor of Chiropractic and Functional Medicine with a specialty in hormone balancing and optimization. This session will discuss the total hormone picture throughout the body, from stress and functional hormones to sex hormones.
Video length: 33:19 minutes
Its About Longevity: Laying the Foundation for CF Men's Health
Meeting focused on the building blocks of male CF health. University of Kansas Medical Center Clinical Dietitian Ellie Jobst discusses foods that promote sexual health. Joseph Bores and Billy Fritsch, both males with CF and certified personal trainers, discuss building stamina for a healthier, longer life.
Video length: 52:32 minutes
Urology in Males with Cystic Fibrosis
Genetic Testing and Counseling Considerations for Males with Cystic Fibrosis
Low Testosterone in Males with Cystic Fibrosis
Podcast
READING
Chapter: Male Health and Cystic Fibrosis
Blog Post: Testosterone: Too Often Ignored In Chronic Illness Care
By Reuben Samuels
Hormones are vital to overall health but often overlooked in chronic illness care. Before Reuben’s 2019 lung transplant, he discovered his low testosterone levels and started hormone therapy, leading to major improvements in muscle mass, mental clarity, sleep, and energy. Post-transplant, continued therapy helped his full recovery, including reversing severe osteoporosis. Hormone health matters—advocate for yourself and start the conversation with your doctor.
Academic Resources
CF and male health: Sexual and reproductive health, hypogonadism, and fertility.
Males with CF face sexual and reproductive health (SRH) concerns such as infertility and hypogonadism. While males with CF are aware of their infertility, they are not equally aware of the risk of low testosterone. The authors discuss infertility and paths to fatherhood. They also advocate for better standards of care concerning the unique issues males with CF face.
Naz Khan F, Mason K, Roe AH, Tangpricha V. CF and male health: Sexual and reproductive health, hypogonadism, and fertility. J Clin Transl Endocrinol. 2021 Dec 6;27:100288. doi: 10.1016/j.jcte.2021.100288. PMID: 34987977; PMCID: PMC8695349.
Prioritizing sexual and reproductive health research and care for people with cystic fibrosis.
The CF Foundation funded the Sexual Health, Reproduction, and Gender (SHARING) Research Working Group, which surveyed 330 CF adults and caregivers. In this report, the group members summarized their priorities related to SRH research topics.
Kazmerski, Traci M et al. Prioritizing sexual and reproductive health research and care for people with cystic fibrosis: A 2023 workshop report from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Sexual Health, Reproduction, and Gender (SHARING) Research Working Group. Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, Volume 23, Issue 4, 639 – 646.
Sexual and Reproductive Health Among Men With Cystic Fibrosis.
This article reviews the literature on male CF sexual and reproductive health concerns, including infertility, hypogonadism, assisted reproductive technology, and urologist recommendations for males with CF.
Campbell K, Zarli M, Schuppe K, Wong R, Rahman F, Ramasamy R. Sexual and Reproductive Health Among Men With Cystic Fibrosis. Urology. 2023 Sep;179:9-15. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2023.06.017. Epub 2023 June 26. PMID: 37380131; PMCID: PMC10592521.
Testosterone concentrations and associated predictors in men with cystic fibrosis: A retrospective, single-center study.
Males with CF run the risk of having hypogonadism (low testosterone). However, researchers do not know why this occurs or how many males with CF are impacted. This retrospective study conducted at Emory Cystic Fibrosis Center looked at testosterone levels and found that about one-third of the participants experienced low testosterone levels.
Jathal I. Wang Y. Binongo JNG. Cobb C. Hunt WR.Khan FN.Tangpricha V. Testosterone concentrations and associated predictors in men with cystic fibrosis: A retrospective, single-center study. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences, Volume 0, Issue 0. Received 9 April 2024, Accepted 3 July 2024, Available online 10 July 2024.
Prevalence of Low Testosterone in Men With Cystic Fibrosis and Congenital Bilateral Absence of the Vas Deferens: A Cross-sectional Study Using a Large, Multi-institutional Database.The authors of this article wanted to explore the “prevalence and treatment rates of low testosterone (T) in men with Cystic Fibrosis (CF).” They hypothesized that patient concern over hypogonadism would translate into higher screening rates. While this large study has limitations, the researchers found interesting results and feel that testosterone management can improve quality of life.
Campbell K, Deebel N, Kohn T, Passarelli R, Velez D, Ramasamy R. Prevalence of Low Testosterone in Men With Cystic Fibrosis and Congenital Bilateral Absence of the Vas Deferens: A Cross-sectional Study Using a Large, Multi-institutional Database. Urology. 2023 Dec;182:143-148. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2023.08.039. Epub 2023 Sep 15. PMID: 37716455; PMCID: PMC10842516.
Assessing Infertility Literacy and Knowledge Gaps Among Patients with Cystic Fibrosis.
This article provides information about how males with CF perceive their infertility and indicates there are knowledge gaps that patient-provider discussions can bridge. While the survey includes a small sample size, it does offer insights into male sexual and reproductive health concerns.
Rahman F, Campbell K, Deebel N, Ghomeshi A, Zarli M, Domaradzki L, Tupayachi Ortiz MG, Ramasamy R. Assessing Infertility Literacy and Knowledge Gaps Among Patients with Cystic Fibrosis. Urol Res Pract. 2023 Sep;49(5):312-315. doi: 10.5152/tud.2023.23061. PMID: 37877879; PMCID: PMC10646797.
Success Rates of Assisted Reproduction for Men With Cystic Fibrosis.
Most males with CF are infertile. This can be confirmed by semen analysis by looking for the lack of sperm in the ejaculate. This article details the largest study to date on the success rate of fertility treatment in helping males have biological children.
Sapru K, Wilkinson J, Webb AK, Akhtar M, Bright-Thomas RJ. Success Rates of Assisted Reproduction for Men With Cystic Fibrosis. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2025 Jan;60(1):e27472. doi: 10.1002/ppul.27472. PMID: 39812352; PMCID: PMC11734377.
Supported in part by an Impact Grant from the CF Foundation
