Andrology

From The Critics

Reviewer: Roy E. Weiss, MD, PhD(University of Chicago Medical Center)
Description: This is an elegant textbook on male reproductive health and dysfunction. It encompasses basic physiology of the male reproductive system and includes important and well-presented current research and clinical issues. This book is carefully edited by Nieschlag and Behre, and the chapters are authored by their colleagues at the Institute for Reproductive Medicine, Munster, Germany.
Purpose: The purpose is to bring together specialists in various disciplines including basic science, gynecology, urology, clinical medicine, endocrinology, and psychiatry and produce a useful textbook for students of andrology.
Audience: The book is appropriate for urologists, endocrinologists, reproductive endocrinologists, internists, and family physicians who are confronted with problems of male sexual dysfunction and basic scientists who wish a clinical perspective on the subject matter.
Features: The references are 1996 or later and are plentiful. The diagrams are very illustrative. The only negative comment about the book would be the last chapter that discusses the ethical aspects of reproductive medicine, but takes a somewhat narrow view of ethics vis-a-vis the church, avoiding other religious opinions or "ethical" concepts.
Assessment: Although the topic of male sexual function is often found as a section in a larger textbook of medicine, urology or endocrinology, it is uniquely presented here. Not only are the topics covered in more depth but there is a wider variety of topics than traditionally covered. The important clinical "pearls" are easily highlighted in pink for quick reference. Although not heavily inundated, there is a sufficient description of molecular mechanisms when appropriate. There are very practical sections, such as directions on how to monitor testosterone therapy in hypogonadism. This is a superb book that I have on my bookshelf and plan to refer to frequently.

Roy E. Weiss

This is an elegant textbook on male reproductive health and dysfunction. It encompasses basic physiology of the male reproductive system and includes important and well-presented current research and clinical issues. This book is carefully edited by Nieschlag and Behre, and the chapters are authored by their colleagues at the Institute for Reproductive Medicine, Munster, Germany. The purpose is to bring together specialists in various disciplines including basic science, gynecology, urology, clinical medicine, endocrinology, and psychiatry and produce a useful textbook for students of andrology. The book is appropriate for urologists, endocrinologists, reproductive endocrinologists, internists, and family physicians who are confronted with problems of male sexual dysfunction and basic scientists who wish a clinical perspective on the subject matter. The references are 1996 or later and are plentiful. The diagrams are very illustrative. The only negative comment about the book would be the last chapter that discusses the ethical aspects of reproductive medicine, but takes a somewhat narrow view of ethics vis-a-vis the church, avoiding other religious opinions or "ethical" concepts. Although the topic of male sexual function is often found as a section in a larger textbook of medicine, urology or endocrinology, it is uniquely presented here. Not only are the topics covered in more depth but there is a wider variety of topics than traditionally covered. The important clinical "pearls" are easily highlighted in pink for quick reference. Although not heavily inundated, there is a sufficient description of molecular mechanisms when appropriate. There are very practical sections, suchas directions on how to monitor testosterone therapy in hypogonadism. This is a superb book that I have on my bookshelf and plan to refer to frequently.

5 Stars! from Doody