Human Fertility and Infertility: New publication at EAU25

The EAU is proud to present a new limited-run historical publication on the ever-present theme of fertility. Written by a urologist and a gynaecologist (who happen to be father and daughter), the richly-illustrated coffee table book will open the eyes of urologists and offer new perspectives on their profession.

Human Fertility and Infertility: From Prehistory to the Present illustrates the unique aspects of pregnancy, birth, and parenthood in the past, but also in the modern world with new forms of maternity and paternity. The authors also discuss how different cultures worldwide dealt with the biological and psychological facts of reproduction and illustrate how the arts were inspired by the image of parenthood.

Prof. Philip Van Kerrebroeck (Antwerp, BE) is well-known to us as the Chair of the EAU’s History Office, Vice-Chair of the Policy Office, former chair of the Maastricht University Urology Department and as an expert in functional urology. He has extensively published on historical and cultural topics related to urology and medicine, including contributions to last year’s Urology in Art and as sole author of 2023’s Cache-Sexe.

For this 2025 publication, he is joined by his daughter Dr. Helena Van Kerrebroeck-Gijbels (Genk, BE). Since 2018 Dr. Van Kerrebroeck-Gijbels has worked as a gynaecologist at the ZOL Hospital in Genk and the Life Expert Centre in Louvain. She has specific expertise in advanced endoscopic procedures for women with fertility problems and shares her interest in the history of medicine with her father and grandfather.

The authors, urologist Prof. Philip Van Kerrebroeck and gynaecologist Dr. Helena Van Kerrebroeck-Gijbels.

In this two-part interview, we speak to the proud authors ahead of the presentation of their book  during the EAU25 Opening Ceremony in Madrid.

What can you tell our readers about how fertility and urology intersect or overlap? What can urologists learn from this book?

Dr. Van Kerrebroeck-Gijbels: “Fertility is often perceived as a gynaecological issue, but in reality, male factor infertility contributes to nearly half of all cases. Urology plays a critical role in understanding and managing male fertility, from varicoceles to azoospermia and beyond. This book highlights the shared responsibility in reproductive care and equips urologists with knowledge on the latest fertility treatments, the impact of lifestyle factors, and advancements in assisted reproductive technologies (ART).”

Prof. Van Kerrebroeck: “When it comes to fertility, there are still many misconceptions, and the need to also refer males for further evaluation is still overlooked in a significant number. This discrepancy highlights the need for increased awareness and a more comprehensive engagement of urologists in the assessment and management of male infertility. Hence, there remains a pivotal role for urologists in cooperation with gynaecologists, andrologists, endocrinologists and other reproductive specialists in the evaluation and treatment of male infertility.”

“Urologists have the expertise to diagnose reversible causes of male infertility, such as varicoceles, ejaculatory duct obstruction and hormonal imbalances, and can perform surgical techniques such as varicocelectomy and testicular sperm retrieval to enable ART. Additionally, they can provide advice on lifestyle modifications and prescribe appropriate medications to enhance fertility outcomes.”

Can you tell us about the inspiration for this new publication? 

Dr. Van Kerrebroeck-Gijbels: “The idea for this book came from a shared curiosity about how urology and fertility medicine intersect. As a father-daughter team—one of us a urologist, the other a gynecologist—it has been fascinating to see just how many overlaps exist between our fields. We realised there was a need for a resource that bridged the gap between these specialties, offering both practical insights and a broader understanding of male and female reproductive health.”

Prof. Van Kerrebroeck: “For several years now the EAU has offered its members who attend the Annual Congress a book on a urology-related topic, with a focus on the historical background. These are of interest to any urologist. As fertility, and the potential result, ‘procreation’, is a one of the most important drivers of human life and could even be considered the purpose of life, this topic has been considered for several years as a potential subject for an EAU book.”

“Since the dawn of humanity, fertility has played a major role in human thought, culture, and activities. The mystery of reproduction was one of the earliest dilemmas facing the human race, as for a good part of our early history, humans did not understand how a woman became pregnant. Therefore, the discovery of the relation between sexual intercourse and pregnancy must have been one of the most surprising early concepts acquired by the human brain.”

“However it is not possible to discuss fertility without considering fertility problems, potentially leading to infertility even sterility. What could be more interesting for a urological audience than to present the historical background of our current understanding of fertility and infertility and to discuss the relevance of these facts not only for our professional life as urologists but also for life as a human being?”

A sample spread from the new book.

To be continued in Part Two.

• Human Fertility and Infertility: From Prehistory to the Present is a new, beautifully illustrated 224-page book that can be collected by EAU Members with the right entitlements at the EAU Square (G68) in the EAU25 Exhibition. Available while stocks last!