Men’s health is often an overlooked issue. By raising awareness and encouraging men to take an active and proactive role in their health, both physical and mental, we can make a difference.
Men, on average, have worse health and a shorter life expectancy than women. By raising awareness, we can encourage men to take better care of their physical and mental health. This will lead to longer, happier and more fulfilling lives.
Key facts
A shorter life expectancy
In the UK, men die, on average, 4.5 years earlier than women, often from largely preventable causes. Conditions like cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes affect men at higher rates and can often be caught early with regular screenings.
The stigma around mental health
Men are significantly more likely to die by suicide, yet they are also less likely to seek help for mental health challenges due to societal pressure to “tough it out”. We need to break this stigma by encouraging open conversations and providing support.
The need for proactive care
Many men avoid going to the doctor unless they have a serious medical condition, missing crucial opportunities for early detection and prevention. Regular check-ups are vital for monitoring health and addressing issues before they become life-threatening.
Lifestyle factors
Behavioural factors like smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and unhealthy diets put men at higher risk for various diseases. Promoting healthy lifestyle changes is a cornerstone of improving men’s health.
Mental health
While mental health issues can impact anyone, the experiences and outcomes for men including trans men, and people who are expected to act in traditionally masculine ways are frequently worsened by specific social pressures and stigma.
The pressure on men to conform to restrictive norms, such as being strong or emotionless, contributes to negative mental health effects.
Harmful portrayals in media and television reinforce the stigma that men’s emotional vulnerability is a weakness, which in turn discourages them from crying and seeking help.
Why men might hide their mental health struggles
- Societal expectations – Harmful gender norms dictate what “masculine” means and critiques like “toxic masculinity” can sometimes strengthen those same stereotypes.
- Response from others – When men open up about their feelings, they often face societal pressure to “man up,” dismiss their struggles, and hide their emotions. This reaction, sometimes coupled with bullying, makes them hesitant to seek help again.
- Race – Systemic racism and social expectations of masculinity contribute to black men hiding their mental health struggles and facing significant barriers to accessing support.
Getting support and how to start talking about it
Men’s mental health struggles are common, and you’re not alone. There’s plenty of support available.
Sharing your feelings with a trusted friend or loved one is a positive first step. Finding a supportive community can also be very helpful.
Andy’s Man Club
Andy’s Man Club are a men’s suicide prevention charity, offering free to attend peer-to-peer support groups across the United Kingdom and online.
Their aim is to end the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and help men through the power of conversation.
Andy’s Man Club meet every Monday at 7pm, except for bank holidays. There are local groups including Middlesbrough, Stockton, Redcar, Hartlepool, Darlington and many more.
Men and cancer
Overall the number of men getting cancer is rising. Some cancers only affect men and some trans women and non-binary people (who are born male) can also get these cancers.
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is cancer that originates in the prostate gland and primarily affects men over 50 years old.
The prostate gland is found at the base of the bladder and is about the size of a walnut. It is the most common cancer among men in the UK.
Prostate cancer often has no symptoms at first.
Prostate cancer usually starts to grow on the outer part of the prostate. This means it does not press on the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis (urethra) and cause symptoms, until the cancer has grown or spread.
If this happens, it can cause changes to the way you pee, such as:
- finding it difficult to start peeing or straining to pee
- having a weak flow of urine
- “stop start” peeing
- needing to pee urgently or often, or both
- feeling like you still need to pee when you’ve just finished
- peeing during the night
See a GP if you’re having trouble peeing or other symptoms of prostate cancer. If you’re over 50 years old, come from a Black ethnic background or have a history of prostate cancer in your family and you’re worried about your risk of prostate cancer.
Testicular cancer
Testicular cancer is cancer that’s found in the testicles. It’s most common in men aged 15 to 49. It can affect anyone who has testicles.
Testicular cancer usually only affects one testicle, though in some cases it can affect both.
Symptoms of testicular cancer include:
- a lump or swelling in your testicle
- your testicle getting bigger
- an ache or pain in your testicle or scrotum (the skin that covers the testicles)
- your scrotum feeling heavy, firm or hard
It’s important to check your testicles regularly so you know what’s normal for you. This makes it easier to notice any changes in the size, look or feel of your testicles.
See a GP if you have any of the above symptoms.
Penile cancer
Penile cancer is a rare cancer that mostly affects the skin of the penis and the foreskin (the skin covering the head of the penis). It’s most common in men over 50.
Most penile cancers affect the skin covering the penis (foreskin), or the head or tip (glans) of the penis.
The most common symptoms are:
- a growth, lump or sore that does not heal within 4 weeks
- a rash
- bleeding from your penis or under your foreskin
- a smelly discharge
- difficulty pulling back your foreskin
- a change in the colour of the skin of your penis or foreskin
Some of these symptoms are very common and can be caused by other conditions.
Having the symptoms does not definitely mean you have penile cancer, but it’s important to get them checked by a GP.
If your symptoms are caused by cancer, finding it early may mean it’s easier to treat.
Andropause – the ‘male menopause’
The term “male menopause“, sometimes referred to as andropause, is often used in the media but can be misleading.
It implies that men experience a sudden drop in testosterone during middle age, similar to the hormonal changes women face during menopause. However, this isn’t accurate.
In men, testosterone levels do decline with age, but the decrease is gradual, about 1% per year starting around age 30 to 40 and typically doesn’t cause significant issues on its own.
A testosterone deficiency that develops later in life, also known as late-onset hypogonadism, can sometimes be responsible for these symptoms, but in many cases the symptoms are nothing to do with hormones.
Some men develop depression, loss of sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and other physical and emotional symptoms when they reach their late 40s to early 50s.
Other symptoms common in men this age are:
- mood swings and irritability
- loss of muscle mass and reduced ability to exercise
- fat redistribution, such as developing a large belly or “man boobs”
- a general lack of enthusiasm or energy
- difficulty sleeping or increased tiredness
- poor concentration and short-term memory
These symptoms can interfere with everyday life and happiness, so it’s important to find the underlying cause and work out what can be done to resolve it.
Lifestyle factors or psychological problems can also be responsible for many of these symptoms.
Psychological challenges often stem from stress related to work, relationships, financial difficulties, or concerns about ageing parents.
A “midlife crisis” may also play a role. This can occur when individuals feel they’ve reached the midpoint of life and begin to reflect on their achievements.
Feelings of dissatisfaction with personal or professional accomplishments can trigger a period of low mood or depression.
Other possible causes of the “male menopause” include:
- lack of sleep
- a poor diet
- lack of exercise
- drinking too much alcohol
- smoking
- low self-esteem
What to do
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, see your GP. They’ll ask about your work and personal life to see if your symptoms may be caused by a mental health issue, such as stress or anxiety.
If stress or anxiety are affecting you, you may benefit from medication or a talking therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
Exercise and relaxation can also help.
Do I need hormone replacement therapy (HRT)?
Your GP might request a blood test to check your testosterone levels.
If the results indicate low testosterone, you could be referred to an endocrinologist – a doctor who specialises in hormone-related conditions.
If the specialist confirms a testosterone deficiency, they may recommend testosterone replacement therapy to help restore your hormone levels and ease your symptoms.
This treatment is usually given either as an injection or a gel applied to the skin.