[Focus on boys' health: knowledge gaps, prevention deficits, and strategies to promote adolescent male wellbeing].

Abstract

Adolescent boys make significantly less use of sexual health services and educational resources than their female peers. This article analyses current knowledge, behavioral patterns, and prevention deficits in young males based on recent German studies. Major findings include limited awareness of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), low human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination uptake, and insufficient understanding of testicular cancer risks. Although health check-ups (J1, J2) and school-based sex education are available, gender-specific barriers hinder effective access and implementation. This article discusses practical solutions, from establishing dedicated urology-based adolescent consultations (Jungensprechstunde) and implementing school-based HPV vaccination programs to using digital media for targeted communication. Physicians, especially urologists, play a crucial role as trusted health educators. Promoting early awareness, structural integration, and cross-sector collaboration is essential to improving health literacy, preventive behavior, equality, and long-term wellbeing among young men.