[Andrologic pathology discovered druing conscription screening: how many young men were unaware?].
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 District of Florence where an andrological visit was performed on 11,649 young men living in Tuscany. An evaluation of external genitals and secondary sexual characters was made. All the visits were performed by the same doctor. They were requested to specificity 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 disease which is often undiagnosed. It is personal opinion 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.
Mondaini
N
N
Clinica Urologica I, Università degli Studi, Firenze. mondatre@hotmail.com
Bonafè
M
M
Di Loro
F
F
Biscioni
S
S
Masieri
L
L
Ponchietti
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D014572:Urology