The Philippine Male Aging Survey.

The aging male is fast becoming a global concern. The problem is predicted to become a major health issue that should be addressed immediately in order to prevent disability, morbidity, and, more importantly, mortality. As part of its commitment to increase awareness and create interest in the care of Filipino aging males, The Philippine Society for the Study of the Aging Male Foundation, Inc. (PhiSSAM), a multi-specialty society established in 2000, embarked on a survey among Filipino physicians to determine their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding male aging. Results showed that the majority of doctors (about 87%) thought that men may experience andropause. Most would diagnose patients based on symptoms alone, while only 20-30% used testosterone levels to make a diagnosis of andropause. Decreased libido and less strong erections were the symptoms very closely associated with low testosterone. Of those doctors responding, 89% agreed that andropause can affect the quality of a man's life as much as menopause can affect a female; only 38% had already prescribed/instituted treatment for andropause. Of the 62% non-prescribers, 58% said they were either very likely or fairly likely to institute treatment in the future if there were more clinical trials, more medical information, and more information on drugs. Major concerns on testosterone replacement therapy included prostate cancer, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and heart disease. The findings in this pilot survey indicate a need among the doctors in the Philippines for education about andropause and the available treatments.

Reproductive endocrinology and infertility training in the Philippines.

PIP: This article provides insights into the reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) training in the Philippines offered by the University of the Philippines College of Medicine. First, the paper presents how the structured residency training program in obstetrics and gynecology started in the Philippines, including its subspecializations which include perinatal medicine, maternal medicine, and OB-Gyn ultrasonography, with special emphasis on REI. It then traces the history of the Philippine Society of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (PSREI). The main objective of the Society is to improve the quality of training and practice in reproductive medicine and surgery. Under its established Guideline on Ethics of Infertility Management, PSREI has categorized the qualifications of physicians who should treat patients with infertility problems into three levels: Level I, Level II, and Level III care. The program is, however, constrained by problems such as lack of training centers, cost of instrumentation, lack of research grants, and resistance to accept minimally invasive surgery. The future of the program depends on the support from training centers abroad, increase in the number of local training centers, and availability of more affordable assisted reproductive technology.^ieng