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Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Department of Urology

Andrology

Conducting research to help advance men’s health in the fields of male reproductive medicine, sexual medicine and surgery.

 Nelson Bennett Lab

Studying the management of male sexual health

Research Description

Dr. Bennett’s research focuses on outcomes associated with management of erectile dysfunction, Peyronie's disease, disorders of ejaculation and orgasm, and low testosterone levels. He is currently examining ways to improve sexual function for patients who have undergone radical pelvic cancer surgery and for patients with low testosterone or Peyronie’s disease.

Publications

  1. Hayon S, Panken EJ, Bennett NE. Variations in Low-Intensity Shockwave Treatment Protocols for Erectile Dysfunction: A Review of the Literature and Guide to Offering Treatment.  World J Mens Health. 2023 Sep 26. DOI: 10.5534/wjmh.230105. Online ahead of print.PMID: 37853533
  2. Stinson J,  Bennett NE. " Reviving intimacy: Penile rehabilitation strategies for men after prostate cancer treatment". Prostate Int. 2023 Dec;11(4):195-203. doi: 10.1016/j.prnil.2023.06.001. Epub 2023 Jun 8.PMID: 38196554
  3. Dubin JM, Jesse E, Fantus RJ, Bennett NE, Brannigan RE, Thirumavalavan N, Halpern JA. "Guideline-Discordant Care Among Direct-to-Consumer Testosterone Therapy Platforms." JAMA Intern Med. 2022 Dec 1;182(12):1321-1323. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2022.4928. PMID: 36469030
  4. Wittmann D, Mehta A, McCaughan E, Faraday M, Duby A, Matthew A, Incrocci L, Burnett A, Nelson CJ, Elliott S, Koontz BF, Bober SL, McLeod D, Capogrosso P, Yap T, Higano C, Loeb S, Capellari E, Glodé M, Goltz H, Howell D, Kirby M, Bennett N, Trost L, Odiyo Ouma P, Wang R, Salter C, Skolarus TA, McPhail J, McPhail S, Brandon J, Northouse LL, Paich K, Pollack CE, Shifferd J, Erickson K, Mulhall JP. "Guidelines for Sexual Health Care for Prostate Cancer Patients: Recommendations of an International Panel."  J Sex Med. 2022 Nov;19(11):1655-1669. doi: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2022.08.197. Epub 2022 Oct 1.PMID: 36192299 
  5. Bivalacqua TJ, Allen BK, Brock GB, Broderick GA, Chou R, Kohler TS, Mulhall JP, Oristaglio J, Rahimi LL, Rogers ZR, Terlecki RP, Trost L, Yafi FA, Bennett, N.  "The Diagnosis and Management of Recurrent Ischemic Priapism, Priapism in Sickle Cell Patients, and Non-ischemic Priapism: An AUA/SMSNA Guideline". J Urol. 2022 Jul;208(1):43-52. doi: 10.1097/JU.0000000000002767. PMID: 35536142
  6. Dubin JM, Bennett NE, Halpern JA. "The adverse impact of COVID-19 on men's health." Curr Opin Urol. 2022 Mar 1;32(2):146-151. doi:10.1097/MOU.0000000000000966.PMID: 34966135 
  7. Salter CA, Bach PV, Jenkins L, Bennett N, Yafi FA, El Khatib F, Schofield E, Benfante N, Althof SE, Nelson CJ, Mulhall JP. "Development and Validation of the Satisfaction Survey for Inflatable Penile Implant (SSIPI)".   J Sex Med. 2021 Sep;18(9):1641-1651. doi: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2021.06.020. Epub 2021 Aug 7.PMID: 34373212
  8. Bivalacqua TJ, Allen BK, Brock G, Broderick GA, Kohler TS, Mulhall JP, Oristaglio J, Rahimi LL, Rogers ZR, Terlecki RP, Trost L, Yafi FA, Bennett NE Jr.  "Acute Ischemic Priapism: An AUA/SMSNA Guideline."  J Urol. 2021 Nov;206(5):1114-1121. doi: 10.1097/JU.0000000000002236. Epub 2021 Sep 8.PMID: 34495686
  9. Bennett N. et al.   "COVID and Sexual Medicine".  AUA News 26(9) Sept. 2021
  10. Fantus RJ, Halpern JA, Chang C, Keeter MK, Brannigan RE, Helfand BT, Bennett NE. "The Association Of Popular Diets And Erectile Function Among Men In The United States." Int J Impot Res. 2021 Jul;33(5):548-555. doi: 10.1038/s41443-020-0313-x. Epub 2020 Jun 2.PMID: 32488209
  11. Frydenlund N, Fantus R, Bennett N. "An Update on Novel Therapeutics for Premature Ejaculation".  AUA News 26(3) March 2021

Contact

For contact information, see Dr. Bennett's faculty profile.

 Robert Brannigan Lab

Investigating the physiological, clinical, and social factors associated with male infertility and fertility preservation

Dr. Brannigan’s primary research focuses on fertility preservation (oncofertility) in adolescent and adult male patients with cancer. The overall goal of his research is to raise awareness of the issue of fertility preservation and facilitate access to care. He has reported the significant knowledge gap among pediatric oncology providers regarding fertility preservation recommendations for oncology patients and concurrently published a manuscript in Cancer promoting methods to incorporate fertility preservation care into the care of young oncology patients. He has also reported on the improvement in fertility preservation care coinciding with the establishment of a formalized fertility preservation care program at Northwestern. He continues to publish research to assist clinicians at other institutions looking to establish their own fertility preservation programs, including examining the preferences and perspectives of adult survivors of pediatric cancer regarding fertility preservation.

In this video, Dr. Brannigan shares how he and his fertility preservation team at Northwestern optimize the utilization of fertility preservation in cancer patients. Watch here>>

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 Joshua Halpern Lab

Studying the interactions between patients and the healthcare system, access to care, and ways to improve the delivery of care through health policy, medical intervention, and surgical innovation. 

Dr. Halpern  is interested in health services research in the field of Andrology. He studies the interactions between patients and the healthcare system, access to care, and ways to improve the delivery of care through health policy, medical intervention, and surgical innovation. His research is also focused on patient outcomes following medical and surgical treatments for male infertility and sexual dysfunction, as well as the interaction between cancer and these conditions.

In this video, Dr. Halpern discusses his latest research examining the effect of diet on erectile function and testosterone, recent advancements and breakthroughs in surgical treatments and techniques for erectile dysfunction and what he and his team at Northwestern are doing to optimize outcomes for patients with erectile dysfunction. Watch here>>

In this Better Edge podcast, Joshua Halpern MD, MS, assistant professor of Urology at Northwestern Medicine, discusses his recent study examining the adverse impact of COVID-19 on the male genitourinary system, including worsening semen parameters, lower testosterone levels, and an increased risk of erectile dysfunction. He also talks about the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine in preventing COVID-19 infection and many of these sequelae. Listen here>>

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