Clinical Andrology: EAU/ESAU Course Guidelines PDF

Preface

You are holding in your hands the first edition of ClinicalAndrology. As editors, we would shortly explain the intentions behind this textbook and also ask for your help in improving the editions we are expecting to follow the opus one.

During the recent years, it has becamemore and more evident that diseases of male reproductive systemrepresent a serious and common health problem. At least 15% of all couples experience infertility problems, the contribution of male-related factors assumed to be as frequent as the female ones. Together with sexual dysfunction, fertility problems represent one of the most common disorders in our society. Another issue receiving increasing attention is age-related androgen deficiency and the link between low testosterone levels and the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. However, proper and evidencebased management of these conditions is seriously hampered by lack of clinical andrologists—specialists in disorders of male reproductive system. During the past few years, collaboration between EuropeanAcademy ofAndrology (EAA) and European Association of Urology (EAU), aiming to establish a joint training program within the field of clinical andrology, has been established. Four different subareas of this clinical discipline have been defined: (a) infertility, (b) hypogonadism, (c) sexual dysfunction, and (d) male accessory sex gland infections.

The aim of this textbook is to cover all these four fields and to provide a comprehensive evidence based and clinically oriented tool for training clinical andrologists. However, it can also be used in teaching at the pregraduate level as well as an aid in the daily life of more experienced andrologists. According to these quite ambitious goals, we have approached some of the highest ranked experts within the field of clinical andrology to contribute to this book. The authors were asked to focus on the clinical aspects of andrology basing and documenting their recommendations by stating proper levels of evidence.We thank all the authors for their invaluable efforts.

We are aware of the fact that the first edition of a textbook will not be perfect. However, we hope that the readers, trainees, students will find it valuable in their work with clinical andrology. We would also appreciate constructive feedback—negative or positive—since this will be an important tool for improving the forthcoming editions. Therefore, do not hesitate to let us know your opinion about Clinical Andrology.