ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Minerva Urologica e Nefrologica 2000 June;52(2):63-6

Copyright © 2000 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Andrologic desease in a population of 18 years old young men during conscription screening: how many were a first diagnosis?

Mondaini N., Bonafè M., Di Loro F., Biscioni F., Masieri L., Ponchietti R.

Università degli Studi - Firenze Clinica Urologica I * Università degli Studi - Bologna Dipartimento di Patologia Sperimentale

Background. In Italy the visit during conscription is a valid instrument for epidemiologic research. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of andrologic diseases in a population of 18 years old young Italian men and to estimate in how many of them it was a first diagnosis.
Methods. This randomized study was conducted during 1998 at the Military Discrict of Florence where an andrological visit was performed on 11649 young men living in Tuscany. An evaluation of external genitals and secondary sexual caracters was made. All the visits were performed by the same doctor. They were requested to specificy if they were familiar with the professional figure of the andrologist.
Results. Some andrological disorders were found in 3892 (33.4%) of them and in 3469 (89.2%) it was the first diagnosis. Only 3.7% knew the role of the andrologist and 70% didn’t know where to apply for their problems.
Conclusions. The results of this study showed a poor familiarity with the figure of the andrologist even though about 1/3 of them should be treated for an andrologic desease which is often undiagnosed. It is personal oppinion that these results should make us to think about the consequences that the abolition of male conscription may have given that, for many young Italians, the medical check-up for military service is the first, and often the last, occasion for a control of the genital system.