Andrology is a medical subspecialty of urology in which the focus is on diagnosing and treating the anatomical, biological, and urological aspects of the male sexual factor. The andrologist, therefore, is the most indicated professional to treat men's sexual and reproductive health, in childhood, puberty, adulthood and old age.
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In Brazil, the habit of taking care of health regularly is not as ingrained in the male population as in the female. A survey conducted by the Brazilian Society of Urology (SBU) showed that more than half of men over the age of 35 have never consulted a doctor specializing in andrology.
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These data reveal the importance of making the male population aware of the need to include the andrologist in the list of men's health care. In this way, it is possible to identify diseases in advance and considerably increase the chances of treatment success.
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In addition to treating male disorders in adult life, the andrologist also studies how diseases that arise during child development can impact the fertile potential of adult males.
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Understand more about andrology and what diseases are treated in this medical specialty.
TRAINING IN ANDROLOGY
To work in this area, the professional must be trained in urology, a title earned after medical residency in a period of three years. The specialization in andrology requires another year of studies in the field.
After this period of approximately a decade - considering the graduation to specialization - it is important that the andrologist continue to be updated through courses and seminars, both national and international.
WHAT DISEASES ARE TREATED BY THE ANDROLOGIST?
The doctor who takes care of men's health deals specifically with the reproductive and sexual functions of this population. Therefore, the conditions that the physician specialized in andrology can diagnose and treat are:
Male infertility;
Ejaculatory dysfunctions;
Erectile dysfunction;
Varicocele;
Drop in libido;
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs);
Hormonal changes;
Repeat abortion (sperm defects can lead to miscarriages);
Seminal alterations (eg, azoospermia);
Cancer and other changes in the male reproductive system.
Of the conditions mentioned above, infertility is one that deserves special attention. This is because it is common for couples to focus research and infertility treatments only on women, and men can also be responsible for not reaching the pregnancy.
According to scientific data, in Latin America, male factors of infertility are responsible for 52% of problems related to marital fertility. Therefore, it is essential to carry out a thorough and quality treatment aimed specifically at men.
WHEN IS IT RECOMMENDED TO VISIT AN ANDROLOGIST?
There are many indications for consulting an andrologist. From pre-pubescent individuals, monitoring of adolescent health and even seniors. It is important that men visit the andrologist annually, in routine consultations, in a preventive way.
The lack of specialized follow-up can result in the complication of pre-existing conditions, such as varicocele, negatively impacting the reproductive capacity of men.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN EXAMS IN ANDROLOGY?
First, the andrologist will review the patient's report and history to determine the best medical protocol for each case. At this time, it is important for the patient to be frank with the professional and share the symptoms or doubts that made him book the appointment, as well as the previous and current use of specific medications, so that the andrologist can act more effectively in the assessment and in the treatment.
In this way, the professional will follow his analysis, performing and requesting other tests, such as:
Physical examination of the patient, including diagnosis of varicocele;
Laboratory evaluation (blood tests);
Seminal analysis and sperm function tests;
Imaging exams.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN TREATMENTS IN ANDROLOGY?
The treatment indicated by the andrologist will depend on the complexity of each case. It is possible to divide the forms of treatment as follows:
clinical treatment
Clinical treatment aims to improve the quality of health of the individual as a whole. Interdisciplinary and specialized therapies can include replacement of antioxidants, hormones and antibiotics in cases of infection, as well as changes in habits and lifestyle.
Surgical treatment
The main surgical treatments performed by an andrologist are:
Vasectomy reversal;
Microsurgical correction of varicocele;
testicle biopsies;
Complex microsurgical reconstructions;
Testicular sperm extraction by microdissection.