When most people think about urology, the conversation often centers on prostates, bladders, or cancer care. For Martin Gross, MD, the most meaningful work takes place in a quieter area of the specialty, where success is measured not by survival but by quality of life. Gross, a urologist who was recently named the most cited researcher in penile prosthesis surgery, discusses his path to sexual medicine. He shares what drives his scientific work and why he believes sexuality deserves a place at the center of patient care.
Q+A
New Yale Urologist on Sexual Medicine and Helping People Thrive
Meet Martin Gross, MD
About Martin Gross, MD, and his practice
How would you describe what you do?
Gross: "I concentrate on quality-of-life concerns, in making people happy."
Gross specializes in male sexual health and related urologic conditions, including penile prosthesis surgery, Peyronie's disease, low testosterone, scrotal pain, and ejaculation concerns. His clinical focus is largely on living well.
Why does sexual health matter as a medical specialty?
Gross: "Sexuality is an integral part of human existence. Why can't we put our energy into helping people thrive?"
Growing evidence shows sexual dysfunction is frequently a marker of broader health issues, including cardiovascular disease, hormonal imbalances, and depression. Gross says one’s sexual health is often a window into a person's overall health and well-being.
What drew you to urology in the first place?
"An overwhelming number of our lecturers [in medical school] were doctors who said they hated being a doctor … there was a lot of burnout. I was pretty discouraged," Gross recalls. Then a urologist presented to his medical student class. "He was lively, funny, and said he loved what he did. And I thought, ‘that's what I want to do.’"
Urology is one of the few fields in medicine that can afford to be a little lighter, says Gross, and that spirit carries into how he connects with patients.
Sexual medicine: The specialty and its growth
How long has sexual medicine been a urologic subspecialty?
It's relatively young. Gross points out that penile implants, for example, have only been part of male sexual health since 1973.
The field has grown significantly, especially over the last 40 to 50 years. The Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA) started with a handful of clinicians in the mid-1990s but has now grown to nearly 1,000 members.
What's driving that growth?
Gross says it’s largely baby boomers.
As this generation ages, the desire for sexual intimacy, closeness, and companionship hasn't disappeared, but the physiology sometimes has. "Their interest and desire are still there," Gross says. He sees the next 20 years of his career serving not only older patients, but also younger men dealing with things that "aren't working quite right anymore."
The research: Why it matters
Gross has been named the most cited and most published first author on penile prostheses in the last decade. What does that mean for patients?
Gross: "It shows my devotion to patient care and to making this field better, making science better," he says.
A recent bibliometric analysis published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine examined the 50 most-cited penile prosthesis surgery studies from 2014 to 2024. Gross tops the list in several categories. The article highlights how concentrated authorship has been in this space, and why voices like Gross's carry significant weight in shaping clinical practice.
Does publishing in top journals change how surgeons practice?
It's complicated, explains Gross. “The challenge is volume,” he says. “Most penile prostheses are placed by surgeons who perform only about four cases per year. That means there are relatively few physicians writing and publishing about the procedure, and getting lower-volume surgeons to update their techniques is an uphill battle.”
"I see my job as focusing on standardizing the field and educating," Gross says.
What does his current and future research look like?
Over the last five years, Gross and a small group of colleagues have built what is now the largest retrospective database in the field, called the Prosthetic Urology Multi-Institutional Partnership or PUMP.
He sees a significant need for randomized clinical trials in penile prosthesis surgery and is working toward development.
He also believes the subspecialty needs greater global collaboration to generate evidence that can drive meaningful, practice-changing outcomes.
The patient experience
These conversations can be uncomfortable. How does Gross handle that?
With intention and warmth.
"If I can make a patient open up and feel welcome to talk about things they tend not to talk about with anyone, I've done my job," he says.
He recalls one patient—a man dealing with low testosterone, depression, and the aftermath of a divorce—whose visit ended with a hug. "I feel like I had helped him in a deeper way," Gross says.
What does he ultimately want patients to know?
"I'm here to be a resource,” says Gross.
And for anyone wondering whether quality-of-life medicine is a worthy medical pursuit, Gross has a simple answer: "It’s important because we can."