The following article appears in the March 1999 issue of Outspoken and is reprinted here with permission from The Robson Clinic and The Canadian Paraplegic Association of Ontario. A spotlight on the Charles J. Robson Clinic, Lyndhurst Spinal Cord CentreNEW FERTILITY PROGRAM A SUCCESS!
Last spring, a new CBC program Moving On aired a segment about the Robson Clinic and our new vibratory technique to assist with fertility for male individuals with spinal cord injury. Dr. Robert MacMillan discussed our previous success with the Rectal Electro Stimulation procedure and gave a brief summary of how the new Vibratory technique works. One of our hopeful couples that agreed to be interviewed for the show was Jim and Cheryl Delorenzo. Jim and Cheryl went through the assessment and education of how to perform the new vibratory procedure at the Robson Clinic. They then purchased their own system and was able to use this new technique at home - away from the Clinic!
One of the greatest benefits of this new technique is that it may be possible to perform this in the privacy of their own home, as in the case of Jim and Cheryl. Even if certain factors do not allow for the procedure to be done at home, this process still gives the couple a greater level of control over the situation since this aspect of the process is done by them, not by clinical staff. The procedure is also not invasive, and is usually has very little or no discomfort associated with it. In comparison, the Rectal Electro Simulation procedure may be uncomfortable, and needs to be performed by a Urologist that has been trained in this specialized procedure. It also in almost all cases, needs to be performed in conjunction with a fertility program where gynecologists can perform intra-uterine inseminations (IUI). Unfortunately, the Vibratory procedure does not work for everyone, and in some cases the Rectal Electro Simulation procedure will still be the best option, however the Vibratory certainly has opened new doors for many couples.
This brings us back to Jim and Cheryl. They gave us an excited call last May to announce that they were expecting a baby, and now they are very pleased to introduce their new daughter, Alexis Anne Marie Delorenzo, born on January 15, 1999.
The staff of the Robson Clinic is very pleased to be able to assist couples like Jim and Cheryl. We all find that it is one of the most rewarding aspects of our work.
If you have any questions please call the Robson Clinic at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, The Lyndhurst Center. Our telephone number is 416 597-3422 extension 6218.
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