Surgery does not promote male fertility
Surgery to treat male infertility is not as useful as previously thought and should not be used, according to a study reported on WebMD.com.
A study showed varicocele repair, a procedure that repairs varicose veins in the scrotum, did little to up pregnancy rates for infertile couples. Research showed couples with men who had varicocele repair saw a one percent increase in pregnancy rates when compared to men who had no treatment at all.
The enlarged veins can lead to a rise in temperature and decreased blood circulation to the area, which can lower sperm production.
Yet, some doctors are tentative to rule out use of the procedure. Dr. Susan Benoff, president of the Society for Male Reproduction and Urology, said because other problems factor into infertility, the surgery could still be an effective option for some couples.
“Male infertility is a complex issue, and you have a mixed bag of men with different problems,” she told WebMD. “It makes no sense to say that none of them will benefit from this surgical procedure.”
American ‘smokes’ prove more deadly
Cigarettes made in America have double the amount of a chemical that causes cancer compared to the foreign version, health officials told msnbc.com.
The Center of Disease Control and Prevention evaluated the amount of carcinogen nitrosamine in Marlboros and 13 foreign brands. Researchers told msnbc.com brands from 11 of the countries had much lower levels of the chemical than Marlboro.
The study also compared popular American brands and found the levels were similar.
The CDC blames the American method of curing and blending tobacco for the increased nitrosamine, but adds it is possible to make cigarettes less harmful.
Researchers said cigarette smoke has other carcinogens than nitrosamine and “reducing their levels alone does not guarantee a less hazardous cigarette.”
Drug beats dieting in race for weight loss
A drug used to treat obesity is twice more effective for weight loss than dieting and reduces the risk for heart disease, according to a report from msnbc.com.
Orlistat, commonly known as the brand name Xenical, blocks the body’s ability to absorb fat.
The study showed that people on orlistat lost an average of 14 pounds while those dieting dropped an average of 6 pounds. Those on the drug slimmed their waistlines by almost an inch more than dieters and had lower blood pressures.
-compiled by Susanne Cervenka
