Adolescents and injuries: the andrologists’ initiative to protect their health – iO Donna
L‘andrologist is the specialist doctor in the prevention and treatment of male health, the equivalent of the gynecologist for female health. Still, the latest figures from the SIA, Italian Andrological Societyone in three children under 20 has an andrological problem, such as varicocele, cryptorchidism, curved penis and other ailments. But in almost the majority of cases they are still kept “hidden” out of shame and embarrassment. But not everyone knows that these ailments, if not addressed early, can interfere with sexuality and in 10% with fertility. Just as girls must be checked by the gynecologist starting from the first menstruation, so also boys should take care of their current and future andrological health in advance. We still need to spread more information and overcome old taboos that interfere with male health and fertility.
At least 30% of boys between 14 and 20 have an andrological problem
Only 2% of the under 20s went to the andrologist at least once, yet 30% of the boys between the ages of 14 and 20 have an andrological disease and in one case out of 10 this could compromise future fertility.
For this reason, starting from September the andrologists SIA, Italian Andrological Society, they will be all over Italy to meet teenagers and talk about andrological preventioninvolving 100 schools and 10,000 children across the country.
Men’s health from A to Z
The meetings will also be an opportunity to present the ‘Vocabulander‘, the vocabulary of the men’s health from A to Z that the experts will deliver to the children and that will also be disseminated on social networks.
A guide to address and learn about common problems such as erectile dysfunctionthe varicocele and the circumcision. Furthermore, throughout the year, an Amazon on a horse with the colors of SIA will compete in numerous equestrian competitions to remember that love must not have obstacles: starting from the Cascine di Firenze the next June 19.
The andrologist, this unknown
To increase the awareness of the very young, inform them and prevent prevention, the campaign starts ”Love without obstacles’ of the Italian Society of Andrology (SIA), which for the entire next school year, until June 2023, will bring andrologists to 100 schools across the country. «Only 2% of young people control themselves, there prevention must instead begin from adolescenceproblems that at this stage are not real pathologies must be identified to be addressed avoiding subsequent consequences as in the case of varicocele and the risk of infertility “, explains Alessandro Palmieri, president of SIA and professor of Urology at the Federico II University of Naples.
‘Love without obstacles’, the campaign for young people starts
The andrological prevention campaign ‘Love without obstacles’ wants to intercept young people and make them understand that they must and can turn to the andrologist without fear. “Through one-hour meetings in schools, the specialists will address issues related to prevention and knowledge of andrological diseases, leaving the children with the ‘Vocabulander’, a vocabulary of andrology in which to find correct and verified information. From the A of azoospermia to the Z of zinc, an important mineral for the well-being of spermatozoa, the vocabulary will be a guide to learn about the main diseases related to the genitals, the correct use of condoms, intimate hygiene, nutrition, alcohol and the risks associated with the use of drugs ”, explains the expert.
Varicocele, curved penis and cryptorchidism
«The SIA awareness project was also born on the basis of previous experiences gained through andrological visits made to students in schools. An andrological problem such as varicocele, cryptorchidism, congenital curved penis or other common disorders has been identified in one in 3 boys. In half of the cases these can interfere with sexuality and in 10% with fertility ”, adds Nicola Mondaini, creator and coordinator of the campaign and professor of Urology at the Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro.
The condom, this stranger
The condom, for example, it is used by less than one in two boys in the 16 to 18 age bracket and only 7% of those who use it consider it a tool to prevent sexually transmitted diseases. These pathologies, on the other hand, are very common among children and yet we never talk about them ».
Fertility is also protected by the andrologist
“The campaign was also created to bring attention to the issue, which has never been talked about in the two years of the pandemic, given that many of these diseases can undermine the future fertility of children”, adds Marco Bitelli, macro-regional coordinator of the initiative. and head of the Andrology and Reconstructive Surgery Service at the San Sebastiano Martire Hospital in Frascati. «In the course of the campaign, which also provides initiatives on social and online, the problems related to Long Covid in adolescents and young people. Cases are increasing in andrological clinics. We know that long Covid affects 17% of adolescents and children under 20 who have had the disease: among persistent symptoms at 3 months in the twenties there is often general fatiguewhich for many then has rnegative hypercussions on sexual desire It is on mechanism of erection“.
What the andrologist does
«Love without obstacles means jumping over difficulties, just like a horse does during a competition, overcoming obstacles that can threaten the reproductive and sexual health of man», says Alessandro Palmieri, president of SIA. “The knowledge ofandrologist as a referring physician for the sexual field is unfortunately still very low, especially among young people as well as information on sexual prevention.
The specialist has the fundamental role of guaranteeing correct information, from a young age, because knowledge means awareness. The campaign was born in the name of prevention, because the sexual and reproductive health is a valuable asset for humans: preventing and addressing any problems with the andrologist can certainly improve the quality of life in the fertile age ».
The girls to the gynecologist, the boys to the andrologist
“The preventive visits to the andrologist should become for males what the gynecologist is for girls. Being informed is essential for proper prevention and to take care of your sexual well-being. And it is crucial to do so by consulting safe and reliable sources of information: for this reason SIA has launched the Love without obstacles campaign with an eye to the very young, so as to correctly and exhaustively inform those who approach sexuality so that they can live it safely. and well-being ”, concludes Palmieri.
The online map to find the nearest andrologist
Being informed is essential for proper prevention and to take care of one’s sexual well-being, but it is necessary to consult safe and reliable sources of information. Prevenzioneandrologica.it is the reference site for andrological issues in Italy: promoted by the Italian Society of Andrology, it collects detailed information and in-depth articles prepared by SIA andrologist specialists. By clicking on the site http://www.andrologiaitaliana.it/mappa_andrologica.php you can find the nearest SIA certified andrologist specialist to book a visit.
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