[The urologist's role in assisted reproductive technology (ART)].

BACKGROUND

Following on from the Rapport vers une stratégie nationale de lutte contre l'infertilité (Report on a national strategy to combat infertility) submitted to the French Minister of Health in 2022, whose objective 13 is: to better identify and diagnose male infertility, we wanted to clarify with reproductive specialists what role the urologist should play in the management of the infertile couple.

METHODS

An expert consensus was reached with the Pedagogical Committee and pilots of the Transversal Specialized Training in Reproductive Medicine and Biology - Andrology, and with the presidents, board and scientific council of the French Federation for Reproductive Study (FFER).

RESULTS

In the case of infertility in a couple, the fertility of both partners should be assessed from the outset, and in the event of abnormality or failure of ART, the patient should be referred to a uro-andrologist for expert management. The uro-andrologist will set up medical or surgical treatments to improve the prognosis of the man's fertility, in conjunction with the entire ART team. It is also important for the urologist/andrologist to take charge of the man's health before conception, because of the benefits for the patient himself and for his offspring.

CONCLUSION

This expert consensus has shed light on the role of the uro-andrologist in the ART pathway, on the need for training in Andrology and on the medical demography required.