This information explains what to expect as you start your treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering’s (MSK) Male Sexual and Reproductive Medicine Program. It also answers some frequently asked questions.
About the Male Sexual and Reproductive Medicine Program
The Male Sexual and Reproductive Medicine Program helps people with cancer-related sexual health challenges. It focuses on managing and treating the following conditions during any point of your cancer treatment:
- Erectile dysfunction (trouble getting or keeping an erection)
- Orgasmic dysfunction (trouble having an orgasm)
- Ejaculatory dysfunction (trouble ejaculating semen during an orgasm)
- Low testosterone levels
- Fertility problems
- Peyronie’s disease (curved penis caused by scar tissue)
The Male Sexual and Reproductive Medicine Program team includes:
- Doctors
- Advanced practice providers (APPs, such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants)
- Office and clinic coordinators
You may meet or talk with all or some of the healthcare providers on the team depending on your needs. Your healthcare provider may be a female or male. They will help you manage your condition so you can get back to living your life. For more information, visit our website at www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/diagnosis-treatment/symptom-management/sexual-health-fertility/health/male-medicine.
Treatment Plans
Your healthcare providers will work with you to come up with a treatment plan to help you manage the effects of cancer on your sexual health. Your treatment plan may include:
- Medications to treat erectile and ejaculatory dysfunction
- Hormone replacement for low testosterone levels
- Fertility preservation (ways to increase your chances of being able to have a biological child in the future)
- Rehabilitation after surgery, such as penile rehab after prostate cancer, bladder cancer, or colorectal surgery or radiation
- Counseling
- Help with talking to your current or future partners
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I get ready for my treatment at the Male Sexual and Reproductive Medicine Program?
At your first visit, your healthcare provider will give you resources to read to help you better understand what to expect during your care. Read the resources and call the office at 646-888-6024 if you have any questions or concerns.
If you didn’t get any resources during your first visit, your healthcare provider will send them to you through your MyMSK (MSK’s patient portal) account. They can also send them to you in the mail if you prefer.
Who do I call with questions about my treatment?
If you have any questions or concerns about your treatment with the Male Sexual and Reproductive Medicine Program, call 646-888-6024 Monday through Friday from to A coordinator will connect you with one of our healthcare providers or a healthcare provider will call you back within 48 hours.
If you haven’t been seen in the office for more than a year and would like a new treatment or need to talk to someone about a change in your condition, you will be scheduled for an appointment.
If you have an emergency, call 212-639-2000 and ask for the doctor on call (covering) for the Male Sexual and Reproductive Medicine Program. Don’t call the on call doctor for medication refills, dose adjustments, to review your lab results, or for prior authorizations. If you call the on call doctor for any of these, you’ll be redirected to the office during normal business hours.
Can I contact my healthcare provider using MyMSK?
You can use MyMSK to send a message to your healthcare provider in the Male Sexual and Reproductive Medicine Program. MyMSK messages are checked by our APPs Monday through Friday from to MyMSK messages aren’t checked after hours, on weekends, or on holidays. An APP will return your message within 24 to 48 hours. They will either send you a message on MyMSK or call you.
Don’t use MyMSK as an instant messaging system or for emergencies. You don’t need to send more than 1 message or call the office in addition to sending your message unless you haven’t received a response.
If you don’t have a MyMSK account, you can visit my.mskcc.org, call 646-227-2593, or call your doctor’s office for an enrollment ID to sign up. You can also watch our video How to Enroll in MyMSK: Memorial Sloan Kettering's Patient Portal.
Is my treatment covered by insurance?
Many of the treatments offered by the Male Sexual and Reproductive Medicine Program may not be covered by insurance. Depending on your diagnosis and your treatment plan, your healthcare provider may ask you to call your insurance company to see what medications they cover. They will prescribe the treatment that is most affordable for you with the greatest benefit. They will also offer other options.
Your healthcare provider can’t prescribe more medication than you need or call your insurance company for you. They can’t ask insurance companies to cover a medication that isn’t on your treatment plan or that’s used for a condition that they aren’t treating you for.
Any prescriptions ordered during your office visit will be sent to your pharmacy by the end of the day. If your pharmacy didn’t get your prescription 24 hours after your visit, call 646-888-6024.
What other care will I need?
As part of your care, your healthcare provider may ask you to complete lab work, such as blood tests. You can have your lab work done at MSK or at a local lab, such as Quest DiagnosticsTM or Labcorp. Call the Male Sexual and Reproductive Medicine Program 7 to 10 days after your visit so you can review your results with your healthcare provider.
How will I transition my care to my local doctor?
Once we find a treatment plan that works for you and you’ve been responding well to your treatment, we may plan to transition you to your local doctor or urologist (doctor who specializes in the urinary tract and male reproductive system). Not everyone transitions their care to a local doctor. This depends on your treatment plan and how you respond to it.
Your healthcare providers will work with you to set up a discharge plan that gives you enough time to schedule an appointment with your new doctor.
Once you’re discharged, your healthcare provider will send your local doctor a detailed summary of your care at MSK and copies of your test results. This report will also include any recommendations based on the treatment you received. If your condition changes, your response to treatment changes, or you need more treatment for your cancer, you can schedule an appointment with our office so we can see you again.