Bringing back the old andrological examination from the time of compulsory military service, bringing it to schools, to carry out primary prevention and early diagnosis of ‘male’ pathologies especially among the youngest, today in a worrying increase. More than 70% of family doctors who responded to a questionnaire on fertility and prevention, released by the Italian Society of Human Reproduction (Siru) and by the Italian Federation of General Practitioners (Fimmg), the first results of which were presented at the 6th Siru National Congress, which closes today in Rome.
“General practitioners recognize and share with us the importance of improving primary prevention and early diagnosis for andrological pathologies especially among the youngest, today in worrying increase, also through their direct involvement in schools to return to carry out inspection visits on the boys”, comments Luigi Montano, president of the Andrological area of Siru. “With the abolition of the military visit since 2004, one of the rare moments of prevention dedicated to young males who once passed puberty lose contact with the pediatrician,” explains Vincenzo Schiavo, provincial president of Fimmg Naples. “This – he recalls – allowed 30 to 40% of pathologies strongly linked to infertility to be diagnosed early: varicocele, cryptorchidism, testicular tumors, phimosis, but not only. All pathologies today in strong growth among the younger population, even in as a result of pollution and incorrect lifestyles”.
“General practitioners – underlines Montano – represent the first public health principals in the area. Their role in contrasting fertility problems can, and indeed must, be strengthened also through a new way of meeting young people, visiting them and inviting them to take a spermiogram, as well as inform them about correct styles of vision, improve their food awareness and also improve their awareness of environmental, chemical and physical risks. What better place than school then?”, concludes Montano.