Gods associated with male fertility and virility

Investigating Eating Symptoms in the LGBTQIA+ Population: Do Discrimination and Adverse Conditions Matter?

BACKGROUND

Eating disorders (EDs) have traditionally been studied among heterosexual cisgender women, but recent research highlights a higher prevalence in LGBTQIA+ individuals.

AIMS

This study aims (1) to investigate the association between different groups based on gender identity and sexual orientation (GISO) and experiencing eating symptoms, and (2) to explore the extent to which self-perceived discrimination and adverse conditions explain this association.

METHODS

We administered an online survey to assess eating symptoms using the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q 6.0) and measures of self-perceived discrimination and adverse conditions. Multistep logistic regressions were employed to analyze the associations between GISO and eating symptoms, initially unadjusted, then adjusted for sociodemographic variables, and finally adjusted for self-perceived discrimination and/or adverse conditions.

RESULTS

A total of 560 adults aged 30 ± 10.9 years old were included. After adjusting for socio-demographics all groups were more likely to experience eating symptoms compared to heterosexual men, with odds ratios (ORs) of 5.7 [95% CI: 1.3, 24.3] for cisgender heterosexual women, 6.7 [95% CI: 1.5, 29.8] for cisgender non-heterosexual women, and 9.3 [95% CI: 1.8, 47.5] for non-cisgender individuals. After adjusting for self-perceived discrimination and adverse conditions, the associations for women were attenuated, while the associations for non-cisgender individuals were no longer significant.

CONCLUSION

This study (1) confirms that sexual and gender minorities may be at higher risk for EDs, and (2) suggests that discrimination and adverse conditions may contribute to the higher prevalence of eating symptoms in this population. Additional research is needed to investigate these minority stressors as they may represent targets for effective interventions to prevent eating symptoms in the LGBTQIA+ community.

The genitourinary system in ancient Greece: a historical perspective

The Ancient Greeks were great innovators in all academic fields, including medicine. Hippocrates of Kos, the Father of Medicine, established many terms for the genitourinary (GU) system, such as nephros, urethra, urogenital, and adenocarcinoma. According to Hesiod's Theogony, Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, was born off the coast of Kythera, from the foam produced by Uranus's genitals, after his son Cronus had thrown them into to the sea. In this review, we present the etymology of the GU vocabulary, review the Ancient Greeks' understanding of the GU system and the origins of Greek myths related to the male genitals.

The Urologist's Guide to Religion and Male Factor Fertility Treatment

OBJECTIVES

To create a reference guide for six of the major U.S. religions for use by reproductive health specialists to provide patient-centered care for a culturally diverse patient population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We utilized primary source reviews of various religious texts and verified electronic databases to examine perspectives on use of, in vitro fertilization (IVF), intrauterine insemination (IUI), sterilization procedures such as vasectomy and tubal ligation, and surrogacy for six major U.S. religions: Catholicism, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS), Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, and Islam. Each statement of religious belief was either taken directly from primary source documents or cross-referenced across several secondary sources to ensure accuracy. Perspectives were compiled into a reference document and table for clinical use.

RESULTS

Most religions have focused statements concerning assisted reproduction and vasectomy. While there are caveats for most religions, IVF and IUI are largely opposed only by the Catholic church, surrogacy is not permissible in the LDS Church, Catholic Church, and Islam, and vasectomy is not permissible for the Catholic Church, LDS Church, Judaism, and Islam. Similarly, tubal ligation is also not permitted for these religions with the exception of Judaism of which while vasectomy is considered a violation of the Torah, sterilization of a woman is not explicitly discussed in the old testament. Instead, a rabbinic decree states permanent female sterilization as against the views of the faith. The religions with the most lenient rules concerning reproduction and permanent contraception explored include Buddhism and Hinduism each of which have no reservations pertaining to IVF, IUI, surrogacy, or permanent sterilization.

CONCLUSION

Religion often plays a significant role in patients' attitudes towards use of ART, permanent sterilization, and surrogacy. Familiarity with the religious beliefs and perspectives is important for the reproductive health specialist in order to provide appropriate counseling for their patients.

IMPACT STATEMENT

A summative reference guide can help provide patient-centered care for reproductive health and family planning.

History and future perspectives of male aesthetic genital surgery

Since ancient times, men have tried to change the size and shape of their genitals. Bites from insects or poisonous snakes and weights were among the first methods used for this purpose. In the first half of the 1900s, the scientific push regarding male genital aesthetic surgery began. Scrotoplasty, penile suspensory ligament release, injection of hyaluronic acid as filler, use of several types of grafts, lipofilling, and liposuction are techniques currently used. The Penuma® implant has recently been described with promising results. We are living in the era of tailored surgery and regenerative medicine. Shortly the surgeons will have to know several surgical techniques and adapt them to the patient. New fillers with ideal characteristics, innovative prosthetic devices, and stem cells will probably be the protagonists of future aesthetic surgery. The main effort of the scientific community should be directed towards the design of new randomized controlled trials to increase the evidence on the efficacy and safety of the topic, with the ultimate aim of allowing clear recommendations from scientific societies.

Infertility Treatment Now and in the Future

Treatment of infertility has evolved as understanding of reproduction has improved. Fertility promoting surgery still is performed and recent advances have broken new ground. Hormonal treatments to correct gonadal dysfunction have been developed, but multiple gestation continues to be a significant complication. Assisted reproductive technologies have improved such that in vitro fertilization and its variants increasingly are used to treat nearly all causes of infertility. Advances in assisted reproduction are of 2 types: (1) incremental optimization of existing techniques and (2) development of new, disruptive technologies. Artificial intelligence and stem cell technologies are poised to have impact in the near future.