3
ESSM
Today
PRoF. WoLFGANG WEIDNER
is an internation-
ally known figure and world-class leader in the
field of Sexual Medicine and especially in Male
Infertility & Peyronie´s Disease. He is the current
leader of
EAU Section of Andrological Urology
(ESAU)
and also a great human being. He is
an outstanding contributor to the field of sexual
medicine as a researcher, patient advocate, edu-
cator, innovator and author. Having you here it
is a real pleasure and honor not only for me but
also for all ESSM members.
JIMS:
Prof. WEIDNER, could you make us
a brief journey throughout your profes-
sional background?
I was trained in Giessen and became 1990 Pro-
fessor in the University Department of Urology in
Goettingen. My focus in this time was oncologi-
cal urology, especially partial nephrectomy in
kidney cancer, pediatric urology and the whole
field of andrological urology. I initiated an andro-
logical subspeciality group, a lab dealing with
sperm analysis and tissue freezing and several
innovative procedures as TESE and grafting-
operations for Peyronie’s disease. Until today I
am very grateful for this time together with Prof.
Rolf Ringert who was an excellent supporter for
me. In October 1993 I became the head of the
Department of Urology, Pediatric Urology and
Andrology of the University of Giessen and I am
still there in this position.
JIMS:
During you dilated career, which
has led to the passage from “Andrology” to
“Sexual Medicine”, and what do you prefer
“Sexual Medicine” or “Men´s Health”?
I am and was convinced that many items
of sexual medicine are inborn issues of an-
drological urology, e.g. erectile dysfunction,
Interview with Prof. Weidner
by Juan I. Martinez-Salamanca (JIMS)
Prof. dr. Wolfgang Weidner
Head of the Department of Urology,
Pediatric Urology and Andrology
University Hospital Giessen and
Marburg GmbH -Location Giessen-
J-LU Giessen, Germany
.
uni-giessen.de
hypogonadism, ejaculatory dysfunction…. In
my department we try to cover the whole field
of this special area and we integrate our sexual
specialists of the department of psychosomat-
ics in all cases if necessary. Although, “Men’s
Health” is a comprehensive term, I prefer to
speak about sexual medicine.
JIMS:
What do you think the role of the
urologist should be in the management of
Male Infertility? And what are our major
challenges?
The andrological urologist has to cover all as-
pects of infertility associated with the man in
an infertile coupleship. This includes the whole
diagnostic armentarium including ultrasonogra-
phy, knowledge of sperm analysis, endocrinol-
ogy, reprogenetics, interactions to oncology and
malformations. In my opinion, and this is also
the consensus of the ESAU, the andrological
urologist must also have skills in microsurgery –
TESE and refertilisation, varicocelectomy, TURED
– and operative knowledge in common penile
operations as Peyronie’s disease surgery and
penile implants. The major challenge for andro-
logic groups is to become an accepted part of
a Comprehensive Reproductive Center (CRC) in
a defined cooperation with gynecologist, basic
researchers, genetic specialists, endocrinolo-
gists, sexologists and even pediatric oncologists.
JIMS:
Prof. WEIDNER, PDE 5 Inhibitors
(Tadalafil) have been recently approved in
U.S. for patients with ED & LUTS, which do
you consider being the ultimate role of this
drug in all treatment options of this group
of patients?
I am convinced, that PDE 5 inhibitors have a
positive vascular activity.
One example is ED & LUTs, but even in ar-
teriosclerotic associated infertility there are
first experimental hints that these drugs do
improve the vascular supply of the spermato-
genetic compartment with a positive effect on
spermatogenesis.
JIMS:
In the field of Peyronie´s disease in
which you worked and contributed very
hard, what do you think are the main chal-
lenges to achieve?
One major challenge is to develop new sub-
stances to prevent in an evidence based sched-
ule the progression of the plaque. Concerning
surgery we need an international study in
“graft”-surgery comparing the small incision
technique with plaque excision.
JIMS:
Prof. WEIDNER, regarding the latest
controversy about Testosterone Replace-
ment Therapy & Cardiovascular Risk, what
is your personal opinion about that?
I was very astonished about the new discussion.
I follow Dr. Mulhall who analyzed the new data in
a very critical way during the EAU in Stockholm.
His message is: The book is not closed!
JIMS:
And last but not least, which do you
consider the most important challenges
for our specialty (Sexual Medicine) and for
our society (ESSM) in the next 5 years?
For me as head of the ESAU I think it is neces-
sary to bring all items of sexual medicine into
the heart of all urologists who are dealing with
andrological urology. I think we are on a good
way for a comprehensive view of the whole area.
It was a great pleasure to interview you; I am
convinced that your points of view, fruits of a
lifetime devoted to your work, will be highly ap-
preciated by our readers.
Thanks once again.
dr. Juan i. Martínez-Salamanca
Hospital Universitario Puerta de
Hierro-Majadahonda Universidad
Autónoma de Madrid
Department of Urology
