GGONews June Edition

Could Weight-Loss Drugs Help Male Fertility?

What Are GLP-1 Agonists?

GLP-1 agonists are a class of medications originally designed for diabetes, but now widely used for weight loss. You might know them by brand names like Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro.

Think of GLP-1 as a hormone that acts like your body's natural "fullness signal." These medications mimic that signal, helping you feel satisfied with smaller portions and slowing down how quickly food leaves your stomach. The result? Significant weight loss for many people.

The Fertility Connection

At the recent American Urological Association conference (AUA 2025), researchers presented intriguing early data. They found that overweight and obese men taking GLP-1 agonists showed improved sperm counts compared to those not on the medications.

This makes biological sense. We've known for years that excess weight can negatively impact male fertility by:

• Disrupting hormone balance, particularly testosterone

• Increasing scrotal temperature

• Creating inflammation that affects sperm production

• Causing oxidative stress in reproductive tissues

What This Means for You

Before you get too excited, it's important to understand that this is very early research. We need larger, longer-term studies to confirm these findings and understand exactly how these medications might help fertility.

However, if you're struggling with both weight and fertility concerns, this research adds to the growing evidence that addressing obesity can have wide-ranging health benefits – potentially including reproductive health.

Important Considerations

GLP-1 agonists aren't suitable for everyone, and they do come with side effects. The most common include nausea, vomiting, and digestive issues. More importantly, these medications should only be prescribed by qualified healthcare professionals who can assess whether they're appropriate for your individual situation.

If you're concerned about fertility, weight, or both, the best approach is always a comprehensive evaluation. In my consultations, I often work with patients to address multiple factors that might be affecting their reproductive health – from lifestyle modifications to targeted treatments.

The Team Approach to Bladder Pain

New research confirms the power of multimodal therapy for interstitial cystitis

If you're living with interstitial cystitis or bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS), you've probably experienced the frustration of trying one treatment after another, only to find limited relief. A comprehensive new review in Nature Reviews Urology offers hope: the evidence is mounting that combining multiple treatments works far better than relying on any single approach.

What Is IC/BPS?

Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome is a chronic condition that causes persistent bladder pain, frequent urination, and often severe disruption to daily life. Unlike a simple bladder infection, IC/BPS doesn't respond to antibiotics and can persist for months or years.

The condition affects up to 7% of women and a smaller but significant number of men. What makes it particularly challenging is that no two patients are exactly alike – some experience burning pain, others pressure, and the triggers and severity can vary dramatically.

Why Single Treatments Often Fail

The latest research confirms what many patients and clinicians have long suspected: IC/BPS isn't a single disease with a single cause. Instead, it's likely a collection of different conditions that share similar symptoms.

This explains why treatments that work wonderfully for one person might be completely ineffective for another. Traditional approaches that focus on just one aspect – whether that's bladder instillations, oral medications, or dietary changes – often miss the bigger picture.

The Multimodal Solution

The new review emphasizes what we're increasingly seeing in clinical practice: the most successful treatment plans combine several approaches simultaneously. This might include:

• Bladder-specific treatments like instillations or oral medications

• Pelvic floor physiotherapy for muscle tension

• Psychological support for anxiety and pain management

• Dietary modifications to avoid triggers

• Stress management techniques

In my practice, I've seen remarkable improvements when we treat the whole person rather than just the bladder. For instance, combining bladder treatments with cognitive behavioural therapy has shown particularly promising results for patients who also experience anxiety about their condition.

A Personal Approach

What's exciting about this research is that it validates the need for personalized treatment plans. Rather than following a rigid protocol, we can now justify tailoring treatments based on your specific symptoms, triggers, and underlying factors.

Some patients benefit most from addressing pelvic floor muscle tension, others from focusing on bladder wall inflammation, and many from tackling both simultaneously alongside psychological support.

The key message? Don't lose hope if single treatments haven't worked. The evidence now strongly supports trying coordinated, multi-faceted approaches that address all aspects of this complex condition.

Struggling with Bladder Pain?

If you're experiencing persistent bladder pain, frequent urination, or symptoms that haven't responded to standard treatments, it might be time to explore a comprehensive, multimodal approach.

I work with patients to develop personalized treatment plans that address not just the bladder, but the whole picture – including any psychological, muscular, or lifestyle factors that might be contributing to your symptoms.

New Website Coming Soon

Preview our enhanced content and share your feedback

I'm excited to share that a completely new GGO Med website is in development and will be launching very soon. This enhanced platform will offer improved navigation, better accessibility, and much more comprehensive information about the conditions and treatments I provide.

Preview Available Now

While the new site undergoes final review, many updated pages are already live with significantly expanded content. These pages offer detailed information that will be even more comprehensive in the final website, but I'd love you to take a look and share your thoughts.

📋 Male Infertility - Updated Page

Comprehensive information on causes, investigations, and treatment options

🔬 Penile Doppler - Updated Page

Detailed explanation of this important diagnostic test for erectile function

Your Feedback Matters

These pages are under final review and will be complete only in the new website. However, I'd genuinely value your comments on the content, clarity, and usefulness of the information provided.

Is there anything missing? Are the explanations clear? Would additional information be helpful? Your input helps me ensure the final website truly serves your needs.

An Important Personal Update

Changes to my Saxon Clinic services and my continued commitment to your care

Dear Patients and Colleagues,

I hope this message finds you in good health. Today, I'm writing to share some important changes that will affect my practice at the Saxon Clinic in Milton Keynes, alongside my heartfelt commitment to ensuring continuity of your care.

After much consideration, I have made the difficult decision to discontinue my regular consultation services at the Saxon Clinic. This choice stems from personal circumstances – I will be relocating to an area that makes the commute to Milton Keynes logistically challenging for maintaining the consistent, high-quality care you deserve.

What This Means for Your Care

I want to be completely transparent about how this transition will unfold, because your wellbeing remains my absolute priority:

For New Patients: very soon, I will no longer be accepting new consultations at the Saxon Clinic. However, I remain fully available for new patients at my London locations – Chelsea & Westminster Hospital and Highgate Hospital – as well as through virtual consultations via our secure Carebit platform.

For Current Patients: If you are already under my care, please be assured that I will not abandon your treatment journey. I am committed to seeing through all ongoing treatments and will prioritise your continued care through our established pathways.

Surgical Commitments: I am intentioned in completing all scheduled procedures on my current operating list at the Saxon Clinic. No planned surgery should be affected by this transition.

Ensuring Seamless Continuity

The beauty of modern medicine lies in our ability to transcend geographical boundaries while maintaining personal connections. For follow-up appointments, I will continue to be available through virtual consultations, which have proven remarkably effective for ongoing care discussions, treatment adjustments, and addressing concerns.

I understand that some patients prefer face-to-face consultations with a locally-based practitioner. For those who feel this approach better suits their needs, I will personally ensure a warm referral to trusted colleagues in the Milton Keynes area who share my commitment to excellence in urological and andrological care.

A Personal Reflection

This decision weighs heavily on my heart. The Saxon Clinic has been more than a workplace – it has been a community where I've had the privilege of caring for wonderful patients and collaborating with exceptional colleagues. The relationships built, the successful treatments achieved, and the trust placed in my hands have been among the most rewarding aspects of my practice.

Yet, as I've learned through years of medicine, sometimes personal circumstances require us to make difficult choices. What doesn't change is my unwavering commitment to the principles that define GGO Med: patient-centered care, transparent communication, and the belief that every individual deserves compassionate, expert medical attention.

Launching UroTube by Mr Ollandini

I'm excited to announce that the GGO Med YouTube channel is now officially open! This represents a new chapter in my commitment to making reliable Urological health information more accessible and engaging.

Patient-Led Content

I'll be creating videos that address genuine patient needs – the questions I hear most often in consultations and the topics that matter most to you. This patient-centered approach aligns with PIF TICK requirements, ensuring that every video serves a real purpose in helping you understand your health better.

Rather than creating content for the sake of it, each video will tackle real concerns, explain procedures you're actually considering, or clarify conditions that genuinely affect people's lives.