title: Andrological aspects of physical exercise and sport medicine.
abstract: Appropriate physical activity is one of the bases of healthy lifestyle. In fact, physical exercise and playing sport may be associated with both improvements and injury to both general and reproductive health. A biologically normal testosterone secretion appears fundamental in males to guarantee both a physiological exercise adaptation and safe sport participation. The reproductive system is highly sensitive to the effects of exercise-related stress and the reproductive hormones may both increase and decrease after different acute or chronic exercises. Exercise and sport participation may positively or negatively influence andrological health status depending on the type, intensity and duration of performed physical activity and on individual health status. In addition, prohibited substances administration (e.g. androgenic-anabolic steroids, and so forth) in competitive and non-competitive athletes represents the main cause of iatrogenic andrological diseases. Preventing and treating andrological problems in active healthy and unhealthy individuals is as important as promoting a correct lifestyle. Physicians need to be educated on the relationships between the male reproductive system and sport participation and on the great role of the pre-participation physical examination in the prevention of andrological diseases.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Rome Foro Italico, Piazza Lauro de Bosis, 15, 00135 Rome, Italy. luigi.diluigi@uniroma4.it
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Luigi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Romanelli
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sgrò
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lenzi
mesh_terms: D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000506:poisoning; D000728:Androgens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000506:poisoning; D033441:Andrology / Q000639:trends; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D004300:Doping in Sports / Q000517:prevention & control; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D054526:Men's Health; D058573:Performance-Enhancing Substances / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D018456:Reproductive Medicine / Q000639:trends; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D013177:Sports; D013178:Sports Medicine / Q000639:trends; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014646:Varicocele / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D045930:Anabolic Agents; D000728:Androgens; D058573:Performance-Enhancing Substances; D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors