A Couple's Journey to Find the Right Infertility Specialist Benefits Other Men
Paul, age 38, and his wife, age 32, have been married 10 years and are finally on their way to parenthood after a long journey. The baby they are expecting this winter is “a miracle,” says Paul. “We had become a little despairing and were considering adoption,” he admits.
Paul had been treated for erectile dysfunction and low testosterone by another urologist, who, according to Paul, “put me on a testosterone patch, which kills your sperm count.
The doctor didn’t monitor me. He never even asked me whether I was planning to have children.” When Paul realized this oversight, he switched to another urologist who changed his medication; but once again, the doctor did not monitor Paul, and, needless to say, Paul and his wife failed to conceive.
After carefully researching specialists in his medical insurance plan and networking with friends for recommendations, Paul, who lives in Columbia, Maryland, made an appointment to see male infertility specialist Dr. David Fenig of Chesapeake Urology Associates.
“Dr. Fenig looked over my medical history very carefully. He found that I had a hormonal imbalance for which he prescribed HCG injections. I was very impressed right away with Dr. Fenig. He’s patient, he listens to you, and he takes everything into account. He looked at my total medical history, and he forwarded all my records to my primary care physician and conferred with him. Dr. Fenig monitored me carefully and made sure that I was on track with the medication,” describes Paul.
In the meantime, Paul and his wife were becoming restless that time was passing by and they were well into their 30s and childless. So, with Dr. Fenig’s approval, they enrolled in an in vitro fertilization (IVF) program with very high success rates. “Dr. Fenig was very neutral about this. He advised us that we could keep trying naturally or we could try IVF,” says Paul.
After going through one cycle of IVF, which did not work, the couple felt emotionally drained. So they decided to take a three-month break from trying to get pregnant before returning to Dr. Fenig’s care. In the meantime, Paul’s wife did a lot of research about the effects of antioxidants, dietary changes on fertility and Chinese medicine. They also decided to supplement their fertility efforts with acupuncture, which they had every two weeks. Paul describes it as combining the best of alternative medicine with Western medicine. Paul returned to Dr. Fenig and continued on the HCG injections and Levitra, while taking a multivitamin that Dr. Fenig prescribed to help boost Paul’s sperm quality. The couple both took vitamins and antioxidants and ate a diet customized by a nutritionist.
This time around, they conceived naturally.
“Our dream has come true,” declares Paul. “This wouldn’t have happened if we hadn’t gone to Dr. Fenig.” By finding Dr. Fenig, Paul has also indirectly helped a number of other men with the same diagnosis. “My primary care doctor told me that he has a number of male patients like me, and he now refers them to Dr. Fenig,” explains Paul.
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Solving a Zero Sperm Count
Having children is very important to Brandon T. and his wife, and they credit the expertise and compassion of Dr. David Fenig for their beautiful baby girl.
Brandon, who is in top physical shape and a firefighter, was surprised to find out that he had no sperm count. He and his wife had been trying to conceive a baby for a year, and when they didn’t succeed, both of them consulted their doctors about their fertility. His wife’s tests came back normal, but Brandon said that when the lab called him about his sperm count, he was stunned because they mistook his case for a vasectomy and confirmed that he had no sperm.
“It was heartbreaking,” he recalls. “I found it very distressing. I was told I was virtually sterile.”
However, there was an explanation. Brandon had been taking testosterone therapy because he has naturally low testosterone. But he and his wife could not find a urologist who could help him with the low testosterone and resolve the infertility – that is, until they were referred to Dr. Fenig.
“I immediately liked Dr. Fenig,” says Brandon. “He’s a young, progressive guy who is personable and reassuring. “
Dr. Fenig prescribed human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) hormone therapy to reverse Brandon’s low sperm count, and the results were amazing. Brandon very quickly began producing sperm. “We were pregnant within three weeks,” says the proud father. “I didn’t even have to refill the prescription before we had success.”
In addition, Brandon is continuing the therapy, which is customized for him. Dr. Fenig fine-tuned the HCG in combination with the testosterone and monitors Brandon closely, so that Brandon can maintain sperm levels for the future when he and his wife decide to expand their family. “We’d like to have two to three kids,” he says.
“I’m glad to be in such a good practice with such good doctors. I’m thankful. Dealing with the whole staff in the CUA practice has been phenomenal. My wife and I went from heartbreak to overwhelming happiness,” says Brandon. “We couldn’t be happier. It’s such a great experience to be a parent, and conceive our own child.”
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Dr. Fenig’s Infertility Expertise Helps Another Couple Conceive
Hugh had a complex history of health issues and low testosterone. More than 25 years ago, as a young athletic man who weight-lifted, he came down with an illness that sapped his strength and energy. The disease was a mystery even to the doctors at Johns Hopkins and the National Institutes of Health. They diagnosed it as either Epstein-Barr syndrome or fibromyalgia. During treatment, the doctors also discovered that the testosterone level in Hugh’s bloodstream was low, so they placed him on a regimen of testosterone. Hugh’s health gradually improved. and he continued taking testosterone.
Two years ago, when Hugh married the love of his life, he and his wife decided to start a family. Knowing his complicated medical history, Hugh sought out a doctor who could check his fertility and manage his low testosterone. “I knew that artificial testosterone could lower my sperm count,” he explains. “I went to a urologist who recommended Dr. Fenig highly. He told me that Dr. Fenig has a lot more experience in male infertility than most other doctors.”
“Dr Fenig took me off the testosterone and put me on HCG. My sperm count went up and down for about a year. Dr. Fenig stuck with me and said, ‘We’re going to make this work,’” says Hugh.
“He acted like he didn’t have any doubts. He gave me confidence. Someone else would have given up on me.”
Sure enough, Hugh came in for sperm testing one day, and remembers well that, “Dr. Fenig said to me, ‘You have more sperm than most 18-year olds. If you don’t watch it, you and your wife could become pregnant!” Just days later, Hugh and his wife found out that she was pregnant.
They are now the happy parents of a five-month-old baby girl. “She’s the light of our lives,” exclaims Hugh. “I’m so thrilled that we have her."
“I saw other doctors about my fertility who weren’t really sure what to do. Dr. Fenig worked with me to resolve it. He was steadfast,” says Hugh.
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