- With Mayo Clinic endocrinologist
Todd B. Nippoldt, M.D.
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Todd B. Nippoldt, M.D.
Todd B. Nippoldt, M.D.
Dr. Todd Nippoldt is a board-certified specialist in internal medicine and endocrinology and metabolism. He has special expertise in the area of hormone disorders affecting the pituitary and adrenal glands as well as the testes and ovaries. He has been a member of the Mayo Clinic staff since 1988.
Dr. Nippoldt is a consultant in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Nutrition and works with patients who have disorders of the hormone-producing glands. Common disorders include diabetes, thyroid problems, osteoporosis and elevated cholesterol levels.
He also is involved in andrology, the study of male hormonal disorders, male infertility and sexual dysfunction and is an assistant professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.
Dr. Nippoldt, a St. Paul, Minn., native, has also contributed to "Mayo Clinic Health Letter," a Mayo Clinic CD-ROM and the "Mayo Clinic Family Health Book." He is a fellow in the American College of Physicians and a member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, the American Society of Andrology, The Endocrine Society, The Pituitary Society and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.
"I have found that those patients who have gone to the Internet and obtained accurate medical information come to their appointment with me very well informed, and the discussions regarding the evaluation and management of their condition are very productive and satisfying," he says.
"The key, however, is obtaining accurate medical information. As a medical editor for MayoClinic.com, I hope to be able to ensure that accurate, relevant and up-to-date information is available for patients and their families."
Men's sexual health (4)
- Loss of sex drive in men: Natural with aging?
- Vasectomy reversal: What if it doesn't work?
- Penis fracture: Is it possible?
- see all in Men's sexual health
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Question
Vasectomy reversal: What if it doesn't work?
I had a vasectomy reversal last year. The first sperm test after the procedure was positive, but the second sperm test was negative. How could this be? Will my wife and I be able to have a baby?
Answer
from Todd B. Nippoldt, M.D.
After a vasectomy reversal, it's possible — although somewhat rare — to have a positive sperm analysis followed by a negative sperm analysis.
There may be several possible explanations for your conflicting test results. Sometimes, lifestyle factors — including testicular temperature, smoking or the use of certain medications — temporarily decrease sperm count.
In other cases, scarring from a vasectomy reversal blocks the vas deferens — the tube that carries the sperm. When this type of scarring occurs, it usually happens soon after a vasectomy reversal — leaving a man with only negative sperm analyses. If the scarring happens later, however, a positive sperm analysis may be followed by a negative sperm analysis.
And for some men, it's simply a matter of waiting. It can take up to 15 months for sperm to appear after a successful vasectomy reversal.
To find out what's happening in your case, consult your doctor. He or she may recommend another semen analysis or perhaps a vasogram — a special X-ray used to check for blockages in the vas deferens. If a blockage is detected, it may be helpful to repeat the vasectomy reversal procedure.
If the vasectomy reversal isn't successful, you may have other options for conception. For example, it may be possible to retrieve sperm with a needle or simple surgical procedure for use with in vitro fertilization or other infertility treatments.
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