Rolling admission · Istanbul · Delivered in English
Follow how a university hospital evaluates the infertile man, from the andrology clinic in urology to the andrology laboratory and sperm retrieval in reproductive medicine, with no procedural role, where such cases are scheduled during your dates.
What you see depends on the department's clinical calendar during your placement; the list below describes the department's usual scope, not a guaranteed programme.
Infertility is assessed as a problem of the couple, and the man is evaluated at the same time as the woman. The andrology consultation covers reproductive and medical history, previous surgery, medicines and lifestyle, followed by an examination. Semen analysis is the first laboratory step; because results vary, an abnormal finding is usually confirmed with a second sample before conclusions are drawn. A hormonal profile is added when the count is low or the history suggests an endocrine cause.
When no sperm are found, the central distinction is between a blockage and a failure of production, because the outlook and the treatment differ. Examination, hormone levels and, in selected men, genetic tests help to separate the two and inform counselling about what can be passed on. Where sperm can be retrieved surgically, the procedure is planned with the laboratory so that the sample can be used for injection into the egg or frozen for a later cycle. These are shared decisions between the urologist, the reproductive medicine specialist and the embryologist.
Not every finding needs an operation. Repair of a varicocele is generally considered when it can be felt on examination, the semen analysis is abnormal and the couple is otherwise trying to conceive; hormonal treatment is reserved for specific diagnoses; and for many couples assisted reproduction is the most direct route. Explaining these options, including their limits, is a large part of the clinic's work. An observer who follows a couple from the first consultation to the laboratory handover sees how these decisions connect.
This page covers andrology and male infertility across two services: the andrology clinic in urology and the andrology laboratory in reproductive medicine. The IVF and reproductive medicine page covers the full treatment cycle, and the clinical embryology page covers the laboratory. Robotic urology, endourology and kidney transplantation each have their own focus page.
Trainees and graduate physicians in urology, gynaecology or reproductive medicine who want to see how the infertile man is evaluated and how the clinic and the laboratory work together; clinical-year students are eligible.
Urologists with a specialist qualification who state andrology as their interest within the urology department; the department decides allocation, and the andrology clinic is followed alongside its other clinics and lists. Obstetrician-gynaecologists whose interest is male-factor infertility within assisted reproduction apply through reproductive medicine.
Both routes are strictly observational: observers attend theatre and clinic without patient contact, do not scrub or assist, and are not assessed on any procedure.
| Clinical Observership | Clinical Fellowship | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 1, 2 or 4 weeks (extension possible on request) | 12 to 24 months, agreed with the host department |
| Who it is for | Medical students in clinical years and graduate physicians from outside Turkey | Recognised specialists and family physicians seeking advanced exposure beyond standard specialty training |
| Format | Full-time, strictly observational — outpatient clinics, operating theatre, ward rounds, case discussions | Extended observational attachment to one department: daily practice, service structure and specific techniques |
| Certificate | Certificate of attendance issued by the host hospital and signed by its Medical Director | Certificate on completion issued under the accreditation of the affiliated university school of medicine |
| Start | Rotations typically begin on a Monday; dates are agreed individually | Start date planned around the date you request and the department's capacity |
One online application for both routes. State Andrology & Male Infertility as your focus in your objectives; ATDERA reviews the file and prepares it for the Urology department, then replies with next steps, typically within two working days.
Already started? The application page picks up where you left off.
ATDERA Global Limited (Companies House No. 17173428, registered in England and Wales) coordinates this programme for a university teaching hospital in Istanbul. ATDERA is not a hospital and does not provide clinical care; admission decisions and certificates are the host hospital's.
One online application covers both routes and all twenty-one specialties — details, programme choice and documents in five short steps. ATDERA reviews the file and replies with next steps, typically within two working days.
