April 2024
I was drawn to the field by the possibility of pursuing academic research and surgery and helping women with urologic and pelvic floor conditions who are often underserved. In the late 1990s, what was then called the field of female urology was an open field. Most publications focused on case studies and case series with outcomes of surgical techniques; few basic or translational studies had been completed. I found that many patients were suffering in silence despite the profound impact of these conditions on their quality of life, and I wanted to make discoveries that would improve their lives. The career I envisioned for myself did not fit the traditional career pathway for what we called a female urologist. Instead, I charted my own path.
February 2024
Urinary incontinence is the involuntary leaking of urine. The condition can be embarrassing and distressing. As men aren’t always quick to seek medical care, they may tend to ignore incontinence and hope it will simply go away on its own.
But there's a different way to look at it, says Dr. Richard Lee, an Associate Attending Urologist and Associate Professor of Urology. “There are myriad options for treating and managing incontinence, ranging from behavioral modification to medication and surgery. For more than a decade, we’ve seen a wave of innovative treatments for the condition. With so many effective approaches, there’s simply no reason to avoid seeing a urologist.”
February 2024
If you’re one among millions of women who leak urine by accident, you have a condition called urinary incontinence. It isn’t usually dangerous, but it can be inconvenient, distressing and embarrassing.
The good news, though, is that urinary incontinence can be remedied or at least controlled. In what follows, Dr. Unwanaobong Nseyo, a specialist in urogynecology and an Assistant Professor of Urology at Weill Cornell Medicine, explains the various types of incontinence and their causes, along with treatment options and lifestyle recommendations for women at every age and stage.
January 2024
Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer among men in the United States after skin cancer, and about one in eight men will be diagnosed with the disease during his lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society. It is also one of the most treatable types of cancer, with high survival rates. While the screening process is often quick and painless, many are intimidated by the exam and therefore put it off.
November 2023
Prostate cancer is one disease, but it presents itself along a spectrum. Some men may have cancer that’s considered lower risk, or clinically insignificant, which doesn’t require treatment, while others have cancer that is deemed higher risk, or clinically significant, and does require treatment.
These days, prostate cancer specialists make their treatment decisions via a strategy called risk stratification. They determine a man’s level of risk, taking into account his overall health and priorities, and they tailor his treatment accordingly, in full collaboration with the patient.
Risk stratification is a key component in diagnosing and managing prostate cancer, says Dr. Timothy McClure, an Assistant Professor of Urology spanning two departments—Medicine and Radiology—at Weill Cornell Medicine. The goal is to avoid over-treating prostate cancer. “That was common practice years ago, but things have changed dramatically with our better understanding of prostate cancer,” he says.
November 2023
In this episode of Kids Health Cast, Denise Galan, C.P.N.P. discusses what parents should know about managing bedwetting. She goes over the factors that can lead to nocturnal enuresis like familial history. She also reviews how the common condition can be treated through behavioral modification and medication. She offers tips for caretakers in helping to manage the physical responses and emotions that their child may experience during the challenging time.
October 2023
Dr. Larissa Rodríguez, Chair of Urology at Weill Cornell Medicine and Urologist-in-Chief at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical Center, recently presented a webinar for patients on the topic of female pelvic health.
Covering a range of conditions, risk factors and treatments, the webinar offers both hope and practical solutions to women, many of whom consider their pelvic complaints too personal or embarrassing to discuss with their doctor—or even with their family and friends.
Armed with the information provided in the webinar, women will be able to chart a way forward by making an appointment at the Center for Female Pelvic Health at Weill Cornell Medicine, where they can meet with a compassionate provider and find the help they need. Read more
October 2023
Last Saturday wrapped up an action-packed National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month for Fans for the Cure. The proverbial phone rang (and emails sounded and texts buzzed) throughout July and August with opportunities for us to do what we do best – show up and share our message that early detection leads to best results. And as long as there were open slots on Google Calendar, we accepted.
September 2023
There are so many sources of information out there that it is sometimes difficult to separate fact from fiction, especially when it comes to topics that are not typically discussed, such as issues that may affect your urinary tract and sexual function. Dr. Unwanaobong Nseyo, a urologist specializing in urogynecology and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Urology at Weill Cornell Medicine, and her colleagues in the department have compiled a list of myths and the corresponding facts with information of particular relevance to the LGBTQ+ community.
Below, find a handful of popular examples of misinformation, paired with the medical truths that will give you a better handle on your urologic health.
September 2023
Urinary incontinence, or the inability to hold one’s bladder, is a more common problem than you might expect. Minor incontinence can cause small amounts of leakage when you laugh or sneeze, while more severe incontinence entails a loss of bladder control that results in larger leakage. No matter the severity, it can feel embarrassing when it happens.
August 2023
Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men, with the exception of skin cancers caused by long-term exposure to the sun. One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, but the majority of them will live with it, not die from it.
Still, most men are understandably reluctant to discuss the unwelcome possibility with their doctor that they are at risk for the disease or may even already have it. There is nothing to be gained, though, by avoiding the subject, says Dr. Douglas Scherr, Clinical Director of Urologic Oncology and Professor of Urology at Weill Cornell Medicine. In fact, you might be agreeably surprised by the many advances in screening, diagnosis and treatment of a disease that is no longer equated with a death sentence. Read more
July 2023
Sterilization is the chosen contraceptive method for about half of married or cohabiting couples in the U.S. Of those, only 17% use vasectomy, compared to 30% who rely on female sterilization. “For most of the history of both tubal and vasectomy, there have usually been two or three tubals for every vasectomy,” says Dr. Marc Goldstein, M.D., chief of male reproductive surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine.
July 2023
In this interview, Larrisa V. Rodríguez, MD, reaps the symposium, “Challenges for Urologic Research Symposium: Overcoming Health Disparities in Urologic Research,” which took place at the 2023 American Urological Association Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois. Rodríguez is the chair of urology at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, New York.
July 2023
In this video, Jim C. Hu, MD, MPH, discusses the hesitancy of urologists in the US to utilize the transperineal approach to prostate biopsy over the transrectal approach. Hu is a urologic oncologist and the vice chair of clinical research at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, New York.
June 2023
Annie Hoffnung—a wife, mother, and chief human resources officer at a public relations firm—donated a kidney to a stranger on February 28, 2023. Considered an “altruistic donor,” she belongs to a small group of organ donors who care so much about the welfare of others that they’re willing to take significant time out of their lives and undergo surgery to save the life of someone they don’t know.
“It was something I felt I could and should do,” she says, ever since she saw an ad in her synagogue bulletin announcing that a community member needed a kidney and inviting people to consider becoming his donor. “That person, who my husband knew, needed a donor with an A or O positive blood type.” So far, so good. Annie believed she fit the bill.
She went ahead and submitted an application form to Weill Cornell Medicine’s Kidney Transplant Program, and four weeks later, went in for initial blood work. As hoped, she was compatible with the person from her community who urgently needed a kidney.
However, another prospective donor was ahead of her in the queue, so her kidney wouldn’t be needed after all.
That was when Annie was introduced to the concept of becoming a non-direct, or altruistic kidney donor, where you give the gift of life to someone you don’t know.
June 2023
A woman’s pelvis is home to several organs, including the bladder, the uterus and the rectum. All three normally stay put, but sometimes one or more of these organs can actually fall through the vagina. That’s called prolapse, and it’s far more common that you might suspect.
Pelvic organ prolapse is caused by weakness in the muscles of the pelvic floor to a point where they can no longer keep the pelvic organs where they belong, says Dr. Unwanaobong Nseyo, a specialist in urogynecology and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Urology at Weill Cornell Medicine. “What happens with prolapse is similar to what happens with a hernia,” she says. “Fortunately, there’s a lot we can do to prevent, improve or even resolve these issues. Our main challenge is to let women know they don’t need to accept prolapse, or any other pelvic floor disorder, as shameful or inevitable.”
June 2023
The pelvic floor consists of the muscles that hold the pelvic organs in place, including the bladder, urethra, intestines, rectum and, in women, the uterus, cervix and vagina. Located between the tailbone and pubic bone, these muscles form a “sling” that supports these organs and keeps them in good working order.
According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHHD), a woman may develop a pelvic floor disorder when the muscles or connective tissues of the pelvic area weaken or are injured. The most common disorders are urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse—when the pelvic organs drop into or out of the vagina—and chronic pelvic pain.
June 2023
Doctors at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine are coming together to create the first comprehensive multidisciplinary center for female pelvic health in New York City. Pelvic health issues are exceedingly common, affecting approximately one-quarter of women; examples of common disorders include urinary and fecal incontinence, chronic pelvic pain, pelvic organ prolapse, and obstructive defecation.
For Larissa Rodríguez, MD, Chair of the Department of Urology and Urologist-in-Chief at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine, addressing these pelvic floor disorders takes a holistic approach.
January 2023
After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark case that protected abortion rights, medical professionals say they have seen a drastic increase in vasectomies.
Vasectomies offer a form of permanent birth control for men, and roughly 500,000 are performed every year in the United States.
December 2022
This report by Diaz et al1is a follow-up of the larger controlled study by Gonzalez et al2 that documented a lack of semen parameter change in men who received COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. These patients were studied using semen analyses before and after vaccination. The current study extended the follow-up duration to a total mean of 10 months after vaccination. Again, no adverse effect of COVID-19 vaccination on sperm numbers was seen. Read more
December 2022
Choi et al report on the use of medically assisted reproduction (which includes medical ovulation stimulation and intrauterine insemination as well as in vitro fertilization [IVF]/intracytoplasmic sperm injection[ICSI]) in Australia.1Australia is unique in that is has a single healthcare registry system (allowing the tracking of infertility treatments and subsequent births), and infertility care is available without restriction.
November 2022
Written by Peter N. Schlegel MD, FACS. The article by Mulloy et al in J Urology raises additional considerations for the management of men with priapism. The authors evaluated over 10,000 men using an administrative database, comparing the risk of developing subsequent cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and thromboembolic disease men with a history of priapism. The men with priapism had a 24% higher risk (OR, 1.24) of subsequent disease relative to men with a history of erectile dysfunction, Peyronie's disease or premature ejaculation. This means that even men who are already at risk for cardiovascular disease (men with ED) have a lower risk of subsequent vascular disease than men with priapism. The authors appropriately removed men with a diagnosis of sickle cell disease from the priapism patients, emphasizing the relevance of these observations for men with idiopathic priapism. The study has the usual limitations: The data are based on coding with ICD-10 and CPT codes, and the database is almost exclusively based on patients who have commercial insurance.
September 2022
In this episode of Back to Health, Larissa Rodriguez, M.D. discusses what patients should know about female pelvic medicine & options for reconstructive surgery. She also highlights the newly established Center for Female Pelvic Health at Weill Cornell Medicine/New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Under her direction, the Center is quickly becoming home to the most advanced clinical care and research in the field of Female Urology and Urogynecology.
September 2022
Pelvic floor disorders, such as incontinence, painful sex, and pelvic organ prolapse, are common conditions that many women and gender-nonconforming people struggle with. In fact, one in four women have reported having had at least one pelvic floor disorder and approximately half of American women will experience urinary incontinence at some point in their lives. Read more.
June 2022
Dr. Peter Schlegel, the James J. Colt Professor of Urology and Professor of Reproductive Medicine spoke with the Wall Street Journal regarding recent trends in male infertility, and the medical research into the use antioxidants to treat it.
July 2022
The role of vitamin and supplement use has been controversial in male infertility. The referenced WSJ link contains discussion of several startup companies that provide supplements to enhance sperm function and/or fertility. Dr. Peter N. Schlegel provides comments regarding the management of male infertility and the use of vitamin and supplement therapy.
January 2022
All faculty at Weill Cornell Medicine are expected to contribute to advances in medical science by writing papers describing novel advances as well as to serve in an uncompensated role as reviewers of manuscripts submitted for publication. Dr. Peter N. Schlegel has been recognized with “outstanding reviewer “awards by both Fertility & Sterility as well as AJA.
September 2021
Dr. Peter N. Schlegel, James J. Colt Professor of Urology at Weill Cornell Urology and Attending Urologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital discusses new updates to the male infertility clinical guideline as presented at the 2021 American Urological Associate Annual Meeting.
September 2021
Alfred Winkler, MD, MBA, Chief of Urology at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital and NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital, discusses prostate cancer screenings, misconceptions, and more.
August 2021
April 2021
Dr. Massimo Loda of Weill Cornell Pathology and Dr. Jim C Hu of Weill Cornell Urology/ NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital awarded the Prostate Cancer Foundation Special Challenge Award. This award funds cross-disciplinary teams of investigators in strategic areas to help support transformational prostate cancer research to accelerate progress towards the reduction of death and suffering due to recurrent or advanced prostate cancer.
April 2021
n this episode, Richard K. Lee, MD, MBA, discusses the recent European Urology Focus paper, New Endoscopic In-office Surgical Therapies for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Systematic Review, for which he served as senior author. Lee is an Associate Professor of Urology and Healthcare Policy & Research at Weill Cornell Medicine Department of Urology in New York City.
April 2021
This new publication on microTESE provides new insights into the development and refinement of this technique that is recognized to be critical for most effective sperm retrieval for men with the severe form of male infertility, non-obstructive azoospermia. Dr. Schlegel shares his unique personal observations made from thousands of surgical procedures. His observations were particularly important to provide never-previously-reported tricks of the trade for this surgery, especially for men with a history of Klinefelter syndrome or prior cryptorchidism/orchiopexy. These observations and innovations have led to some of the most successful treatment experiences published.
October 2020
For both prostate diagnosis and treatment, there has been evidence demonstrating significant geographic variation in practice patterns,” said urologic oncologist Jim C. Hu, MD, MPH.
August 2020
“The ideal scenario would be for professional societies to recognize the long-term downstream benefits of PSA screening in terms of reducing the risk for prostate cancer metastases and death in men with more than a 10-year life expectancy,” said Dr. Jim Hu of Weill Cornell Urology.
July 2020
"We hope that a better understanding of the benefits of the PSA test will help more men receive the right treatment at the right time and reduce the burden of metastatic prostate cancer," senior author Jim Hu, MD, MPH, of Weill Cornell Medicine Urology.
June 2020
"The benefits of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test to screen men for prostate cancer may be greater than the harm, say investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, University of Washington School of Medicine - WWAMI and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
"The overarching message for the last eight years has been against PSA testing, and its use has declined significantly as a result," said senior author Dr. Jim Hu of WCM and NYP. "At the same time, metastatic prostate cancer in older men has been rising after reaching an all-time low in 2011, as we have documented in a previous study."
May 2020
Dr. Marc Goldstein, Director of the Center for Male Reproductive Medicine and Microsurgery at Weill Cornell Urology, is featured on Mel Magazine for commentary on vasectomies.
April 2020
Dr. Christopher Barbieri of Weill Cornell Urology says "BPH traditionally has been thought of as something like a benign tumor, but everything we saw in this study points to the conclusion that BPH is not a tumor-like condition."
March 2020
Can the size of the testicular tubule reflect the best area of sperm production? Dr. Schlegel provides expert commentary on Practice Update, discussing the value of seminiferous tubules for predicting sperm retrieval.
March 2020
Can antioxidants improve male factor infertility? Dr. Schlegel was featured on Practice Update for expert commentary, discussing what research has suggested regarding the link between antioxidant intake and male infertility
December 2019
Testicular microdissection - devised by Peter Schlegel, MD, FACS of Weill Cornell Medicine - is now considered the gold standard for surgical sperm retrieval.
December 2019
Are men with infertility prone to develop clinically significant prostate cancer? Dr. Peter N. Schlegel provides expert commentary on the connection between male infertility and the risk of prostate cancer.
November 2019
Dr. Peter N. Schlegel of Weill Cornell Urology provides a thoughtful commentary regarding the prevalence and risk associated with prediabetes in primary infertile men.
September 2019
Dr. Peter Schlegel was featured on PracticeUpdate for expert commentary, discussing what research has suggested about YCM screening for infertile men.
July 2019
Men are notoriously bad at being patients. Compared to women they avoid going to the doctor, skip more recommended screenings and practice riskier behavior.
Dr. James Kashanian of Weill Cornell Urology provides insight on how to help change this.
December 2018
Is there a link between diet and male fertility? Dr. Peter Schlegel was featured on Practice Update for expert commentary, discussing what research has suggested about how food and lifestyle choices can impact sperm production and quality.
June 2018
Renal and Urology News provided coverage of an abstract from the 2018 AUA Annual Meeting regarding the prevalence of robotic assistance in urologic surgery cases, which features Dr. Jim C. Hu for external commentary:
"The findings are supportive of robotic vs open surgery similar to the individual studies that serve as the underpinnings, but one must consider publication bias," said Jim C. Hu, MD, MPH, Director of the LeFrak Center for Robotic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian in New York. "These are meta-analyses of published studies. The question remains whether these findings are representative of community and academic centers that do not publish results. For instance, 30% of robotic utilization in 2005 is higher than population-based studies using insurance claims and industry estimates."