[New aspects of case law on andrological questions: what does this mean for physicians in private practice?].

In recent years there have been several Supreme Court adjudications concerning andrological issues. Among other things it was reconfirmed that drug therapy for erectile dysfunction does not have to be paid by compulsory health insurance providers. In contrast one Supreme Court decided that cryoconservation of ejaculates has to be paid by compulsory health insurance providers under certain circumstances.

[Cost of fertility and erectile dysfunction therapy: who has to pay what in the GVK?].

From 1 January 2004 new legislation changed the liability of the public health insurance regarding diagnostic and therapy both of erectile dysfunction and infertility. Before 2004 medical therapy of erectile dysfunction (autoinjection therapy, PDE5 inhibitors) was included in the coverage of the general health insurance; however, it is now excluded by law. Before 2004 sterilization was covered by public health insurance only if medically indicated.

[Diagnosis and therapy of erectile dysfunction: a function of legal health insurance?].

From the medical point of view erectile dysfunction (ED) is accepted as a disease. However, there is a difference between the medical definition and the definition used by the official health insurance companies. This means that these health insurance companies have sometimes refused payment to the urologists for work done in the diagnosis and treatment of ED, especially in elderly men.

Venous surgery in veno-occlusive dysfunction: long-time results after deep dorsal vein resection.

Follow-up of patients 1 year after deep dorsal vein resection gives evidence of an approximate 50-60% success rate. A careful selection of only this small percentage of patients, in whom abnormal drainage through the penile dorsum is obvious, is mandatory. Men with an arterial cofactor have to be excluded or to be subsequently treated by intracavernosal autoinjection of vasoactive substances.