The Last Word — For Now

Abstract

In this book we have been treated to a potpourri of therapeutic approaches to the difficult problem of male infertility. In the “olden” days there were therapies (used even now) that were hailed as being important tools in our treatment armamentarium. These included vitamin E, triiodothyronine, and others. We have since learned that vitamin E doesn’t work because subfertile men are not vitamin E-deficient; triiodothyronine will not work unless thyroidal insufficiency can be proven and even then thyroid treatment may not alter spermatogenesis. It may be that some of the treatments described in this book will fall into the “vitamin E” category — “It may not work, but at least we’re doing something.” It may be reasonable to raise skepticism about the present or future value of some of the treatments described here. But the editors felt it was important to include those modes of therapy that appear rational and that have been subjected to at least a modicum of scientific critique.