Andrology

Research Description

Dr. Bennett’s research focuses on outcomes associated with management of erectile dysfunction, Peyronie's disease, disorders of ejaculation and orgasm, and low testosterone levels. He is currently examining ways to improve sexual function for patients who have undergone radical pelvic cancer surgery and for patients with low testosterone or Peyronie’s disease.  

Select Publications

• Fantus RJ, Halpern JA, Chang C, Keeter MK, Brannigan RE, Helfand BT, Bennett NE .The association of popular diets and erectile function among men in the United States. Int J Impot Res. 2021 Jul; 33(5): 548-555.

•  Miller JA, Bennett NE Jr. Comparing Risk Factors for Adverse Outcomes in Virgin Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Implantations and Revisions: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Sex Med. 2020 Sep;8(3):388-395.

• Gross MS, Reinstatler L, Henry GD, Honig SC, Stahl PJ, Burnett AL, Maria PP, Bennett NE, Kava BR, Kohler TS, Beilan JA, Carrion RE, Munarriz RM. Multicenter Investigation of Fungal Infections of Inflatable Penile Prostheses. Journal of Sexual Medicine. July 2019.

• Huang IS, Mazur DJ, Kahn BE, Keeter MK, Desai AS, Lewis K, Tatem AJ, Hehemann MC, Brannigan RE, Bennett NE. Risk factors for hypogonadism in young men with erectile dysfunction. Journal of the Chinese Medical Association. January 2019.

• Wren J, Huang IS, Gillis V, Rizo-Palomera R, Brannigan R, Bennett N. A rare complication; retained needle during intracavernosal injection for erectile dysfunction. September 2018. 

Dr. Brannigan’s primary research focuses on fertility preservation (oncofertility) in adolescent and adult male patients with cancer. The overall goal of his research is to raise awareness of the issue of fertility preservation and facilitate access to care. He has reported the significant knowledge gap among pediatric oncology providers regarding fertility preservation recommendations for oncology patients and concurrently published a manuscript in Cancer promoting methods to incorporate fertility preservation care into the care of young oncology patients. He has also reported on the improvement in fertility preservation care coinciding with the establishment of a formalized fertility preservation care program at Northwestern. He continues to publish research to assist clinicians at other institutions looking to establish their own fertility preservation programs, including examining the preferences and perspectives of adult survivors of pediatric cancer regarding fertility preservation.

In this video, Dr. Brannigan shares how he and his fertility preservation team at Northwestern optimize the utilization of fertility preservation in cancer patients. Watch here>>

Select Publications

• Ambulkar SS, Darves-Bornoz AL, Fantus RJ, Wren J, Bennett NE, Halpern JA, Brannigan RE. Prevalence of Hyperprolactinemia and Clinically Apparent Prolactinomas in Men Undergoing Fertility Evaluation. Urology. 2021 Mar 22:S0090-4295(21)00261-2.

• Halpern JA, Brannigan RE. Emergence of three-dimensional video microsurgery for male infertility Fertility and Sterility. July 2020.

• Brannigan RE. What does the future hold? Emerging diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for male infertility. Fertility and Sterility. March 2020.

• Fantus RJ, Halpern JA, Chang C, Keeter MK, Bennett NE, Helfand B, Brannigan RE. The Association between Popular Diets and Serum Testosterone among Men in the United States. The Journal of urology. February 2020.

Dr. Halpern  is interested in health services research in the field of Andrology. He studies the interactions between patients and the healthcare system, access to care, and ways to improve the delivery of care through health policy, medical intervention, and surgical innovation. His research is also focused on patient outcomes following medical and surgical treatments for male infertility and sexual dysfunction, as well as the interaction between cancer and these conditions.

In this video, Dr. Halpern discusses his latest research examining the effect of diet on erectile function and testosterone, recent advancements and breakthroughs in surgical treatments and techniques for erectile dysfunction and what he and his team at Northwestern are doing to optimize outcomes for patients with erectile dysfunction. Watch here>>

Select Publications

• Lai JD, Fantus RJ, Cohen AJ, Wan V, Hudnall MT, Pham M, Brannigan RE, Halpern JA. Unmet financial burden of infertility care and the impact of state insurance mandates in the United States: analysis from a popular crowdfunding platform. Fertil Steril. 2021 Oct; 116(4): 1119-1125.

• Fantus RJ, Chang C, Platz EA, Bennett NE, Helfand BT, Brannigan RE, Halpern JA.  Serum Total Testosterone and Premature Mortality Among Men in the USA. Eur Urol Open Sci. 2021 Jul; 29: 89-92.

• Halpern JA, Fantus RJ, Chang C, Keeter MK, Helfand B, Bennett NE, Brannigan RE. Effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use upon male gonadal function: A national, population-based study. Andrologia. May 2020. 

• Halpern JA, Brannigan RE, Schlegel PN. Fertility-enhancing male reproductive surgery: glimpses into the past and thoughts for the future. Fertility and Sterility. September 2019. 

• Halpern JA, Brannigan RE. Testosterone deficiency. JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association. September 2019.