“Online” and “at-home” versus traditional models of health care: enhancing access or impeding optimal therapeutics?

Why should we screen for male fertility?

“…(Schlegel et al, 2021) A safely administered, noninvasive and inexpensive test, it can reliably assess male fertility potential, detect a high proportion of disease in its pre-clinical state and direct further management, which can improve outcomes (Herman, 2006). It is widely available, now able to be collected at home, and delivered within an hour for processing (Clavijo et al, 2020;Gonzalez et al, 2020). We explain when the SA could be used as a screening test, and why screening for male infertility may be advantageous.…”

Testosterone replacement therapy in the era of telemedicine

“…Direct to consumer (DTC) online medical platforms represent a specific approach towards telemedicine, and these DTC platforms have seen exponential growth in the past few years, especially in the field of urologic care [ 4 ]. Focusing predominantly on men’s health issues such as erectile dysfunction (ED), hair loss, and male infertility, these online companies perform basic healthcare screenings and then prescribe medications without physical examinations [ 5 , 6 ]. Even prior to COVID-19, these platforms were growing in popularity among men in the United States (US).…”

Traits of patients seen via telemedicine versus in person for new-patient visits in a fertility practice

“…Clinicians know that clear communication is important to patients discussing sensitive topics such as fertility (7), and telemedicine could adversely affect communication between patients and providers. Additionally, some REI physicians have suggested that the lack of physical face-to-face interaction in telemedicine could handicap the clinician in making an accurate diagnosis and lead to greater patient loss to follow-up or dropout (8).…”