HolSpan MD

09/08/2026

Be aware
Be HOL

09/08/2026

Notice the amount of emphasis placed on sleep and sleep hygiene (first 3 points).

Success leaves clues…

Sam Leavitt's routine is INSANE 👀

09/06/2026

Be well. Be HOL

09/06/2026

FERTILITY + FOUNDATIONAL HEALTH

Male fertility is men's health.

For decades, male factor infertility has been an overlooked and often under-evaluated part of the fertility conversation. Even though male factors contribute to roughly half of infertility cases, reproductive care and research have historically focused much more heavily on the female partner. That is beginning to change, with male reproductive health finally gaining greater clinical and research attention. [1] [2]

When a couple struggles to conceive, evaluation of the male partner isn't simply about getting a s***m count. Semen analysis is important, but it is only one piece of a much larger picture.

A comprehensive male fertility evaluation can identify potentially modifiable factors, underlying reproductive conditions, and sometimes broader health concerns. International guidelines specifically recommend comprehensive urologic assessment of infertile men rather than viewing infertility as an isolated reproductive issue. [3]

Nutrition, sleep, metabolic health, exercise, medications, environmental exposures, and hormonal health may all deserve consideration as part of the overall picture. The evidence surrounding individual lifestyle interventions continues to evolve, but the connection between reproductive health and overall male health is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

There's another important connection: men interested in current or future fertility should discuss that goal before testosterone treatment. Exogenous testosterone can suppress s***m production, and current AUA/ASRM guidance recommends against exogenous testosterone therapy in men interested in current or future fertility. [4]

Urology: Male factor infertility
Lifestyle Foundation: Whole-health foundations
Men's Health Intersection: Reproductive + hormonal health

Male fertility has spent too long on the sidelines of the fertility conversation. As the field gains traction, we have an opportunity to think beyond conception alone and recognize reproductive health as another important window into men's health.

The goal isn't simply to chase a laboratory number. It's to understand the man behind it.

Be well
Be HOL



Sources:

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33308486/. Lancet, 2021
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33272617/. Fertility and Sterility, 2021
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34511305/. European Urology, 2021
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39145501/. The Journal of Urology, 2024

09/04/2026

This is a sentiment that we also endorse and share frequently.

Sexual health often reflects overall health (and vice versa).

Be aware
Be HOL

💚 No Shame. Just Science.

Thank you to Dr. Rachel Rubin for helping us raise awareness about the importance of sexual health this .

Millions of people experience sexual health concerns, yet many never seek care. The good news? Many conditions are common, treatable, and worth discussing.

🔗 Click the link for trusted sexual health information and resources: https://bit.ly/3Uek1YB

09/04/2026

Be whole. Be HOL!

09/04/2026

METABOLIC HEALTH + TESTOSTERONE

“Low T” shouldn’t automatically be reduced to a prescription or a number on a lab report.

Symptoms matter. Appropriate testing matters. And so does the health context surrounding that testosterone level.

Weight, body composition, insulin resistance, metabolic health, sleep, physical activity, medications, and other medical conditions can all intersect with testosterone levels and the symptoms men experience.

That is why testosterone deficiency deserves a broader conversation.

The AUA specifically recommends counseling all men with testosterone deficiency about lifestyle modification as a treatment strategy, including weight management and physical activity. [1] In men with obesity and functional testosterone suppression, meaningful weight loss can also be accompanied by improvement in testosterone levels. [2]

But there is an equally important point:

Lifestyle modification and testosterone replacement therapy are not necessarily competing strategies.

For the appropriately diagnosed man who needs testosterone replacement therapy, the prescription should not become permission to ignore the foundation.

In my experience, the men who truly embrace a lifestyle-centered approach while on testosterone replacement therapy often thrive.

They don’t just focus on getting the testosterone number “right.”

They work on building muscle.
They improve their nutrition.
They reduce excess body fat.
They prioritize sleep.
They move consistently.
They address blood pressure, glucose, lipids, and other metabolic risk factors.
They build habits that support their health well beyond testosterone.

The available evidence supports thinking about these strategies together rather than viewing testosterone as a substitute for lifestyle. Exercise has independent cardiometabolic benefits, while testosterone therapy can favorably affect body composition in appropriately selected hypogonadal men. [3] Trials combining structured lifestyle intervention with testosterone replacement therapy also reinforce that lifestyle continues to contribute important health benefits even when testosterone is being treated. [4]

Testosterone replacement therapy can treat testosterone deficiency.

It cannot replace resistance training.
It cannot replace nourishing food.
It cannot replace quality sleep.
It cannot replace metabolic health.
It cannot replace the daily behaviors that build health over decades.

That is the opportunity.

Urology: Testosterone deficiency
Lifestyle Foundation: Nutrition + movement + sleep
Men’s Health Intersection: Metabolic + hormonal + sexual health

Treat what needs treatment.

Optimize what can be optimized.

And if testosterone replacement therapy is appropriate, use that treatment as part of a broader strategy for better health (not as the entire strategy).

The goal isn’t simply a better testosterone level.

The goal is a healthier man.

Be well
Be HOL



Sources:

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29601923/. The Journal of Urology, 2018
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36995891/. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2023
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36964918/. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2023
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33351921/. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2021

09/03/2026

Be aware. Be HOL.

09/03/2026

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

As a urologist, I encourage men to know their risk and have a conversation about prostate cancer screening. PSA is a simple blood test, but screening should be individualized based on age, family history, Black ancestry, overall health, and personal preferences. Current AUA/SUO guidance recommends beginning the screening discussion earlier (around ages 40–45) for men at increased risk. [1]

Early detection can make a meaningful difference. Know your risk. Know your PSA. Start the conversation.

PCF.org/CheckTheBox

Be aware
Be HOL



Sources:

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41744286/. The Journal of Urology, 2026

09/03/2026

Be aware
Be HOL

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. 💙

1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, and for Black men, the risk is 1 in 6.

This month, Check the Box for your health, for someone you love, and for your future.

Talk to your doctor. Take a simple blood test. Know your PSA level. Encourage the men you love to do the same.

Check the Box today: PCF.org/CheckTheBox