American Journal of Men's Health最新文献

Low-income Black men in the United States experience cumulative trauma shaped by structural violence, including poverty, residential segregation, over-policing, mass incarceration, and community violence. These systemic harms disrupt identity, relationships, and opportunity, constraining both exposure to trauma and pathways for recovery and growth. Drawing on Tedeschi and Calhoun's posttraumatic growth (PTG) framework, integrated with socioecological and culturally grounded perspectives on resilience, this study examines how low-income Black men make meaning of trauma and pursue transformation amid structural constraints. Using in-depth qualitative case studies with 10 men, we highlight four focal cases to illustrate diverse trajectories of growth. Findings show that PTG unfolds as an iterative, contextually embedded process: some men achieved comprehensive transformation through prosocial engagement, fatherhood, and relational repair, whereas others navigated persistent structural barriers yet demonstrated growth through survival, persistence, and redefined purpose. By situating PTG within systemic inequality, relational networks, and cultural context, this study extends the framework beyond individual cognition, emphasizing how structurally and socially mediated pathways shape PTG among marginalized Black men.

Disparities in prostate cancer incidence and mortality among Black men exist in Suffolk County, New York, indicating a need to provide effective educational interventions about prostate cancer screening for this population. We conducted a mixed-methods study exploring Black men's knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about prostate cancer, and how they access health information. Three semi-structured virtual focus groups were conducted by Black male physicians with 18 Black men aged 40 years and over living in Suffolk County, New York. All were recorded, transcribed, and coded to identify key themes. Participants also completed surveys assessing prostate cancer knowledge and information preferences. Quantitative and qualitative results were analyzed using SPSS and NVivo software. Recruitment required extensive outreach. Even among relatively well-educated participants, more prostate cancer knowledge was needed, and 11% had not obtained screening because they were not aware they needed it. Family history prompted prostate cancer concerns, and fear of dying from prostate cancer motivated screening. Health information from reputable website sources was preferred, with social media drawing attention to educational opportunities and education portraying individuals to whom Black men could relate. Participants expressed desire for further engagement between their community, the academic hospital, and physicians. Our results indicated that despite being relatively knowledgeable about prostate cancer, Black men desire stronger ties and trust between their community and health care providers to facilitate screening. These data may assist health care professionals in designing practical educational tools and tailored programs about prostate cancer screening among Black men who are at increased risk of disease.

The Restorative Masculine Integration Theory (RMIT) introduces a strengths-based, systems-oriented framework for promoting healthy masculinity through healing, leadership, and relational engagement. Developed in response to the adverse effects of masculine suppression, such as emotional disengagement, burnout, and polarity collapse, RMIT outlines a five-phase Cycle of Masculine Restoration: reclaimed masculinity, emotional safety and trust, grounded leadership, rebalanced gender polarity, and healing with cultural renewal. These stages are underpinned by core concepts including psychological safety, peer mentorship, emotional literacy, and authentic masculinity. Drawing from interdisciplinary foundations in gender studies, emotional intelligence, trauma-informed practice, polarity theory, and servant leadership, RMIT offers an adaptable framework for use across clinical, educational, organizational, and policy settings. Its alignment with the MANifest Health Theory further strengthens its applicability in men's health promotion. This manuscript elaborates the theory's conceptual development, visual model, and practical implications, while identifying future directions for empirical validation and inclusive application. RMIT advances a timely and restorative model for transforming masculine identity into a source of individual and collective resilience.

Over the past four decades, reports have emphasized the spatial and temporal trends in human semen quality and other markers of male reproductive health, which have sparked significant debate among fertility professionals. This trend appears limited to specific geographical regions rather than being global. The study aimed to retrospectively review the comprehensive distribution of semen characteristics and analyze their temporal changes over a period of 17 years at a single center in the southern parts of India. Ejaculates of 12,151 sub-fertile men undergoing infertility workup at the University Andrology Laboratory from 2006 to 2022 were included. Semen analysis was performed as per the World Health Organization (WHO, 1999, 2010) recommendations. The primary outcome of interest was temporal changes in semen parameters, whereas data regarding the distribution of semen characteristics were also measured. Sperm concentration, total sperm number, motility, vitality, and morphology showed no significant variations over time. The fifth percentile of semen volume, sperm concentration, total motility, vitality, and normal morphology were 0.5 mL, 1.5 million/mL, 21.0%, 28.0%, and 7.0%, respectively. This study revealed no temporal decline in sperm concentration, motility, and morphology in 17 years, and found fifth percentile sperm characteristics were lower than WHO reference values, marking the extensive long-term semen quality analysis from a single Indian laboratory. The findings reported here do not support an alarming temporal decline in semen quality.

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a complex condition characterized by heterogeneous symptoms and unclear pathogenesis, often posing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Lumbar disk herniation (LDH) may compress the dural sac and irritate the cauda equina, producing subclinical symptoms that overlap with those of CP/CPPS and increasing the likelihood of misdiagnosis. We report the case of a 61-year-old man with an 8-year history of CP/CPPS unresponsive to standard treatments, including phytotherapy, anti-inflammatory agents, and physical therapy. Further evaluation revealed lower-limb weakness and low-back pain; lumbar CT identified disk herniation with dural sac compression. Treatment was revised to include traditional Chinese medicine (Mai Xue Kang capsules and a modified Chaihu-Guizhi-Ganjiang Decoction) along with lifestyle modifications, resulting in significant symptom relief and no recurrence at 6-week follow-up. A review of the literature supports the potential for LDH to mimic CP/CPPS symptoms, highlighting a diagnostic blind spot. This case emphasizes the importance of considering spinal etiologies in refractory CP/CPPS and advocates for a broadened diagnostic framework to enable more personalized treatment strategies.

Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan (WZYZW) is a traditional Chinese formula known for treating male infertility, though its mechanism of action is unclear. This study investigates how WZYZW may alleviate spermatogenic dysfunction in mouse testes induced by triptolide (TP). We established a TP-induced spermatogenic dysfunction mouse model and randomly divided 30 male C57BL/6J mice into five groups: control, model, and low-, medium-, and high-dose WZYZW groups (six mice per group). After a 35-day intervention, testicular tissues were analyzed for histopathology via hematoxylin-eosin and TUNEL staining. Protein expression of type I collagen, laminin, fibronectin, and spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) markers, including GFRα1, Ret, and PLZF, were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining. GDNF and CSF1 levels were measured by ELISA, and the PLCγ/PKC pathway was analyzed via Western blotting and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Compared with the model group, WZYZW significantly increased testicular index (high-dose, p < .01), improved Johnsen score (all doses, p < .05), reduced spermatogenic cell apoptosis, and improved the spermatogenic microenvironment by increasings type I collagen (high-dose, p < .01), laminin (low-dose, p < .01; medium/high-dose, p < .05), fibronectin (high-dose, p < .01), GDNF (medium/high-dose, p < .05), and CSF1 (high-dose, p < .05). It significantly upregulated the expression of GFRα1, PLZF, C-kit, Ret, and SCF, with the improvement of GFRα1(medium/high-dose vs. low-dose, p < .01), Ret (medium/high-dose vs. low-dose, p < .05), SCF (high-dose vs. low-dose, p < .05) showing a certain dose-dependency. The qRT-PCR and Western blotting results showed that WZYZW significantly enhanced PLCγ/PKC pathway activity. The study indicates that WZYZW can improve the spermatogenic microenvironment and promote the self-renewal and differentiation of SSCs through the PLCγ/PKC pathway, thereby improving spermatogenic function.

To systematically evaluate the quality of both domestic and international clinical practice guidelines for male infertility using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation II (AGREE II) tool, identify methodological shortcomings, and propose evidence-based recommendations for improvement, this study was conducted. A systematic search of Chinese and English databases, along with official websites of international organizations, was undertaken to identify relevant guidelines. Four independent reviewers assessed the included guidelines employing the AGREE II tool, focusing on the rigor of development processes and the concordance and divergence among core recommendations. Ten guidelines were included, with only one rated "recommendable" using AGREE II criteria; others were "conditionally recommendable" or "not recommendable." Key shortcomings included deficient rigor of development (Domain III: 34.4%), applicability (Domain V: 48.3%), and editorial independence (Domain VI: 23.5%). Eighteen core recommendations were identified. Domestic guidelines lacked transparent conflict of interest disclosures and multidisciplinary collaboration, whereas international guidelines demonstrated superior methodological rigor through interprofessional integration. Most guidelines failed to validate clinical impacts of recommendations, hindering practical implementation. This study represents the first systematic evaluation of male infertility guidelines at national and international levels, with comparative analysis of their recommendations. Findings reveal widespread deficiencies in methodological rigor, applicability, and editorial independence. Future guideline development should adopt standardized frameworks, enhance multidisciplinary collaboration, ensure editorial independence, and integrate evidence-based medicine to improve quality and clinical utility.

Obesity-related pathophysiological mechanisms adversely affect human fertility and infertility treatment. Conventional anthropometric indices for assessing obesity poorly differentiate visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). This explains inconsistencies between the studies evaluating the influence of obesity on semen parameters and assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes. A Body Shape Index (ABSI) and body roundness index (BRI) are novel indices that offer better differentiation of VAT and SAT. Our study assessed the correlation between traditional and novel indices with semen parameters and ART outcomes.A cross-sectional study, conducted at a tertiary fertility center from January 2023 to March 2025, encompassed 319 men undergoing ART. They were divided into four groups based on body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), BRI, and ABSI quartiles. Anthropometric indices were measured and correlated with semen parameters (semen volume, sperm concentration, motility, and morphology) and ART outcomes (number of obtained embryos, transferred embryos, frozen embryos, and usable blastocyst development and embryo utilization rates).Our analysis revealed that anthropometric indices correlated differently with semen parameters and ART outcomes. BMI, BRI, and WHtR correlated negatively with semen parameters, whereas WHR and ABSI did not. ABSI negatively correlated with all analyzed ART outcomes, while WHR significantly correlated only with total number of embryos.Traditional anthropometric indices that inform us on general obesity are linked to semen analysis parameters. Novel indices that differentiate VAT and SAT are linked with ART outcomes, suggesting possible epigenetic consequences of increased VAT.

Increased sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) despite normal semen analysis may be encountered in couples with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss. Therefore, implementing strategies for selecting sperm cells with appropriate DNA integrity may improve the outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART). This study compared the efficacy of short abstinence, magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS), and zeta potential in obtaining sperm cells of improved quality. Accordingly, among couples with recurrent ART failures or recurrent abortions, 30 men with increased sperm DFI (sperm chromatin dispersion [SCD] more than 18 %) were enrolled. Subsequently, each participant provided a semen specimen after abstaining for 2 to 3 days. This specimen was divided into three parts. Sample 1 underwent semen analysis and DNA integrity/protamination evaluation using SCD/chromomycin A3 (CMA3) indices. Samples 2 and 3 underwent similar assessments after processing with zeta potential and the MACS techniques, respectively. Finally, Sample 4 was provided the following day after a short abstinence of 24 hr, and was analyzed as the previous samples. Based on the results, Sample 1 had the highest sperm count, and MACS preserved more sperm compared with zeta potential. By applying the three mentioned strategies, the percentage of sperm cells with progressive movement increased significantly, with MACS being more effective compared with the zeta potential (p < .001). MACS and zeta potential methods provided more sperm with normal morphology and fewer sperm with abnormal SCD/CMA3 tests (p < .001). These three strategies may provide sperm exhibiting better DNA integrity, with the MACS being the superior approach.

Male infertility is an escalating global health concern, yet it remains under-researched in Bangladesh. The factors contributing to this issue have not been thoroughly studied. This study aims to identify the factors associated with male infertility in the Chuadanga district of the Khulna division of Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study design was employed, involving 690 male participants seeking infertility treatment at community clinics and hospitals within the district. Participants were recruited through a two-stage sampling technique and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The infertility status of the males served as the outcome variable, while sociodemographic characteristics, contextual factors, lifestyle behaviors, and health-related information were treated as explanatory variables. Data analysis employed descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression models. The study revealed that 16.5% of participants were classified as infertile, while a substantial majority (83.9%) was aware of their condition. Key factors significantly associated with male infertility included educational attainment (AOR = 0.239, p = .032), occupation (AOR = .317, p = .044), monthly income (AOR = 6.324, p = 0.032), monthly expenditure (AOR = 0.184, p = 0.031), type of residence (AOR = 0.139, p < 0.001), sources of drinking water (AOR = 11.615, p < 0.001), and smoking habits (AOR = 3.304, p < 0.001) in the study area. This study underscores critical factors contributing to male infertility in Chuadanga, emphasizing the need for targeted public health interventions. Strategies should emphasize promoting healthy lifestyles, ensuring environmental safety, and improving access to clean drinking water. Raising awareness and enhancing education on male reproductive health can help improve outcomes and reduce infertility rates in low-resource settings.