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Genitourinary issues during spaceflight: a review

Abstract

The genitourinary (GU) system is not uncommonly affected during previous spaceflights. GU issues that have been observed during spaceflight include urinary calculi, infections, retention, waste management, and reproductive. In-flight countermeasures for each of these issues are being developed to reduce the likelihood of adverse sequelae, due to GU issues during exploration-class spaceflight, to begin in 2018 with flights back to the Moon and on to Mars, according to the February 2004 Presendent's Vision for US Space Exploration. With implementation of a robust countermeasures program, GU issues should not have a significant threat for mission impact during future spaceflights.

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Acknowledgements

Dr Larry Lipshultz, Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Adrian Leblanc at USRA and Shannon Melton at Wyle Laboratories.

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Jones, J., Jennings, R., Pietryzk, R. et al. Genitourinary issues during spaceflight: a review. Int J Impot Res 17 (Suppl 1), S64–S67 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901431

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