Andrology

I. Department Overview

Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital (formerly Qingdao Medical College Affiliated Hospital, commonly known as “Shanda Hospital”) is one of the earliest medical institutions in China to expand research and clinical practice in andrology. Its predecessor was the Human Sperm Bank and Andrology Research Laboratory of Qingdao Medical College Affiliated Hospital, established in 1984. It was one of the earliest formally established “human sperm banks” in China, and simultaneously conducted research on male infertility and artificial insemination. Subsequent work included male sexual dysfunction, andrological plastic surgery, and treatment of prostate diseases, relieving the suffering of countless patients. It enjoys a broad and favorable reputation in China and abroad and laid a sound foundation for the development of andrology at our hospital.

After more than 30 years of development, our hospital’s scientific research and clinical work in andrology have made significant progress, and the levels of basic research and clinical diagnosis and treatment have continuously improved. In 2013, the Department of Andrology was formally established, marking the beginning of a new period in the development of our hospital’s andrology services. Since its official establishment, the department has successfully progressed from its initial formation to increasing maturity. At present, the Department of Andrology has a relatively strong and complete team of professional and technical personnel and is equipped with comprehensive andrological diagnostic and treatment instruments and equipment. It can meet the diagnostic and treatment needs of the majority of male patients and provide them with diagnostic and treatment technical services meeting the standards of a tertiary Grade A hospital.

Currently, the Department of Andrology receives 60–80 outpatient visits per day, completes more than 50 various diagnostic and treatment procedures, performs 250–300 operations each month, and has 250–300 admissions and discharges per month. Its academic influence continues to expand. Department members have presided over or participated in more than 10 provincial/ministerial-, municipal- and university-level research projects; received more than 10 science and technology progress awards from provincial/ministerial authorities, the municipality and Qingdao University; published more than 200 research papers in journals at various levels; and published 2 monographs related to urology and andrology. At present, department members are leading or participating in 5 ongoing provincial-, municipal- and hospital-level research projects.

II. Department Organization

The Department of Andrology has three functional areas: the Andrology Outpatient Clinic, the Andrology Diagnosis and Treatment Center, and the Andrology Inpatient Ward Area. These respectively provide outpatient reception, non-inpatient andrological diagnosis and treatment, and inpatient andrological surgical treatment.

1. Andrology Outpatient Clinic:

Shinan Campus: No. 16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao Medical College Affiliated Hospital, 6th floor of the outpatient building;

Expert clinic hours: all day Monday to Friday, mornings on Saturday and Sunday; closed on statutory holidays.

West Coast Campus: No. 1677 Wutaishan Road, Huangdao District, 2nd floor of the outpatient building

Expert clinic hours: all day Monday and Wednesday.

2. Andrology Diagnosis and Treatment Center:

Address: Shinan Campus, No. 16 Jiangsu Road, Andrology Diagnosis and Treatment Center.

Working hours: same as above.

3. Andrology Ward:

Address: 13th floor, Building A of the inpatient building, West Coast Campus, No. 1677 Wutaishan Road

III. Scope of Medical Services

1. Professional directions

Male sexual dysfunction

Male sexual medicine and sexual psychology

Male infertility

Male contraception

Male sexually transmitted diseases

Endocrine diseases of the male reproductive system

Prostate diseases

Other diseases of the male reproductive system

Andrological surgery and new technologies

2. Classification by disease

(1) Male sexual dysfunction: erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, anejaculation, priapism, retrograde ejaculation, abnormal libido, dyspareunia

(2) Sexual medicine and sexual psychological abnormalities: sexual ignorance, sexual relationship disorders, abnormal sexual orientation, various sexual preferences

(3) Male infertility and contraception: male infertility caused by various factors, reduced reproductive function, male contraception and fertility regulation, etc.

(4) Male gonadal dysplasia and hypogonadism: congenital and acquired abnormalities of gonadal development and function, and various physiological and pathological endocrine and sex-hormone secretion disorders.

(5) Varicocele.

(6) Vasectomy and vasovasostomy.

(7) Infections of the male reproductive system: prostatitis, seminal vesiculitis, orchitis, epididymitis, urethritis, balanoposthitis, funiculitis

(8) Sexually transmitted diseases.

(9) Tumors of the male reproductive system: tumors of the prostate and seminal vesicles, tumors of the testes and epididymides, penile tumors, scrotal masses, etc.

(10) Benign prostatic hyperplasia.

(11) Other conditions: phimosis and preputial stenosis, preputial adhesions, malformations of the external genitalia, cryptorchidism, hydrocele, fibrosis of the corpus cavernosum, induration of the penis, trauma

IV. Professional Technical Features

1. Academic level and capabilities

In 1984, research was initiated into deep-hypothermic preservation of human sperm and assisted reproduction technologies, and one of the earliest “human sperm banks” in China was established. On this basis, research and clinical diagnosis and treatment in andrology were gradually expanded. Significant achievements have been made in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of andrological diseases such as male reproductive developmental abnormalities, male infertility, male sexual dysfunction and prostate diseases, as well as in male genital plastic surgery and andrological microsurgical and minimally invasive surgical treatment. The department has a high level of scientific research and extensive clinical diagnostic and treatment experience, and has received recognition from domestic and international peers and favorable comments from the majority of andrology patients.

2. Specialized diagnosis and treatment services

(1) Infertility diagnosis and treatment: male infertility caused by various factors. Includes oligospermia, asthenozoospermia, necrozoospermia, teratozoospermia, azoospermia, etc.

Male infertility testing instruments and equipment

(2) Male sexual dysfunction: erectile dysfunction, anejaculation, premature ejaculation, sexual-life disorders, etc.

(3) Prostate diseases: prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia, male chronic pelvic pain syndrome, etc.

(4) Gonadal dysplasia and low sex-hormone levels: delayed puberty, gonadal dysplasia and hypofunction, senile hypogonadism, etc.

(5) Male reproductive protection and reproductive insurance

3. Andrological microsurgical and minimally invasive surgery

(1) Testicular and epididymal microsurgical and minimally invasive surgery: excision of masses or tumors, cryptorchidism surgery, puncture and biopsy, microsurgical sperm retrieval, etc.

(2) Spermatic-cord microsurgical and minimally invasive surgery: surgical treatment of varicocele, vasovasostomy and recanalization, excision of masses, etc.

(3) Seminal-vesiculoscopy minimally invasive surgery: seminal vesiculitis, seminal-vesicle stones, seminal-vesicle bleeding, seminal-vesicle exploration, etc.

(4) Vas deferens and epididymal microsurgical and minimally invasive surgery: vasovasostomy, vasoepididymostomy, etc.

(5) Andrological microsurgical plastic surgery: correction of penile curvature, lengthening and reconstruction of buried penis, reconstruction for a short penile frenulum, circumcision and reconstruction for phimosis, trauma repair and reconstruction, etc.

(6) Other procedures: penile prosthesis implantation, surgery for penile tumors and testicular tumors, minimally invasive surgical treatment of hydrocele, etc.

Microscopic vasovasostomy/vasoepididymostomy

Indication: obstructive azoospermia

Microsurgical, low ligation of the spermatic vein Indication: varicocele

Seminal-vesiculoscopy exploration and treatment

Indications: refractory hemospermia; azoospermia, oligospermia, etc. caused by ejaculatory-duct obstruction

Testicular exploration + microsurgical sperm retrieval + sperm preservation + ART for azoospermia caused by various factors

Male genital reconstructive surgery

Indications: buried penis, penile lengthening, correction of penile curvature, etc.

NX-III Male Function Dynamic Diagnostic Instrument, Urostym™ LABROIE Biofeedback Therapy Instrument, N-ⅡA Computerized Andrology Treatment Instrument

Indications: erectile dysfunction, “impotence and premature ejaculation,” sexual-life disorders, etc.

Thermal-magnetic treatment and biofeedback treatment for chronic prostatitis, etc.

V. Professional Technical Team:

1. Composition of professional and technical personnel

2 chief physicians/professors, 2 associate chief physicians, 1 associate chief technician, and 3 attending physicians/technicians in charge; educational qualifications: 2 doctorates, 2 master’s degrees, 2 bachelor’s degrees, and 2 junior-college qualifications.

2. Domestic academic appointments

1 member of the Andrology Professional Committee of the Chinese Medical Association, 2 deputy chairpersons of the Andrology Branch of the Shandong Medical Association, and multiple chairpersons, deputy chairpersons and members of the Andrology Professional Committee of the Qingdao Medical Association; multiple deputy chairpersons and members of the Andrology Branch of the Shandong Association of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine.

VI. Main Diagnostic, Treatment and Research Equipment

1. Andrology laboratory diagnostic and treatment instruments and equipment:

Computer-assisted semen analysis system, dynamic sexual-function diagnostic instrument, prostate treatment instrument, biofeedback therapy instrument, multifunctional male sexual-function rehabilitation system; analytical balance, constant-temperature water-bath system, high-speed centrifuge, optical microscope system, stereomicroscope, constant-temperature incubator, colorimeter, ultra-low-temperature freezer and temperature-control equipment, etc.

Microsurgical and minimally invasive equipment and instruments

Seminal vesiculoscope, microsurgical system, microsurgical camera system, microsurgical sperm-retrieval instruments and microscope system, sperm-preservation liquid-nitrogen storage system, etc.

VII. Teaching and Scientific Research in Andrology

The Department of Andrology of Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital is a doctoral-degree program of Qingdao University. It conducts physician training in andrology and scientific research in the field of andrology, and undertakes the education of doctoral and master’s students in andrology and continuing education for urology-andrology clinicians throughout the province.

In cooperation with the Departments of Urology and Reproductive Medicine, it trains 3–5 doctoral and master’s graduate students in the andrology specialty direction each year. The main research directions include male reproductive biology, male infertility and male reproductive protection, and male sexual dysfunction. All complete their studies with excellent results and successfully obtain their degrees.