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It’s Men’s Health Month: Here’s Your Checkup Checklist

Health & Patients
June is Men’s Health Month, a time when we encourage men to take charge of their health, including physical, mental, and sexual health.
  • Life expectancy estimates at birth in the United States remains lower than pre-pandemic levels, at 77.5 years in 2022 compared to 78.8 in 2019. For men, that age was younger than 75 years in 2022.1
  • According to a 2022 Hearst survey of 1,517 U.S. adult men ages 18-80, men reported that there is room for improvement when it comes to managing their health. Less than half of respondents rated their overall physical, mental, and sexual health as excellent or very good.2
Endo is committed to advancing men’s health through research, partnerships, and patient education. The most powerful advocates for men’s health are the patients themselves—the ones who speak up, make the appointments, and feel empowered to find healthcare professionals who can provide a treatment plan that’s right for them.
Here are three things all men can do this month to take control of their health:

1. Schedule your annual physical.

We all recognize the importance of maintenance—changing the oil in the car regularly, making sure the lawn is weeded and seeded each season, and staying up to date on bills.
Just like other areas of our lives, good health starts with good habits. You can start by getting an annual health checkup.
What to expect during an annual health appointment: 
  • A healthcare provider checks the patient’s weight and vital signs, including blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature.3 
  • The provider may order a blood test to measure cholesterol and blood sugar levels.3
  • Men may also receive a prostate exam, which can help catch cancer and other health issues.4
  • Based on age and family history, the provider may suggest additional screenings, such as a colonoscopy or hepatitis C test.3

2. Discuss mental health issues with a professional.

How many men are man enough to talk about their feelings? 
  • 47% of men ages 18-34 in the 2022 Hearst survey reported that mental/emotional issues like depression and anxiety are something you have to control on your own.2
Men need to be open to discussing these issues for their mental health, as well as their physical health. Certain physical symptoms like chronic pain or digestive problems may be caused by issues of mental health.5
What you can do:
  • Learn more about common mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and stress.
  • Discuss with your primary physician and ask if they would recommend a therapist. Remember that many mental health providers now offer telehealth appointments.

3. Find a urologist in your area.

Men may be more vocal when it comes to talking about sex. But when a below-the-belt problem occurs, embarrassment can leave them speechless.
  • Of the sexually active men (n=1,331) in the Hearst survey mentioned above, over half (53%) agreed they don’t know how to improve their sexual health.2
  • 34% were too embarrassed to talk to anyone, even healthcare professionals, about their sexual health.2
Don’t wait years to discover the importance of sexual health, which can impact both physical and mental well-being.6
Here’s what you can do today:

You owe it to yourself to address all aspects of your health. Physical, mental, and sexual health are interconnected, so it’s vital to take good care of all of them.

And there’s no better time to take control of your health and become your own health advocate than Men’s Health Month.

 

References:

1) Arias E, Kochanek KD, Xu JQ, Tejada-Vera B. Provisional life expectancy estimates for 2022. Vital Statistics Rapid Release; no 31. National Center for Health Statistics. November 2023. https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc:133703. Accessed May 14, 2024.

2) Hearst Media Survey. 1,517 U.S. adult men ages 18-80 regarding men’s healthcare concerns. Conducted March 2022.

3) Physical exams for men: what to expect. Cleveland Clinic. September 12, 2023. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/male-physical-exam. Accessed May 14, 2024.

4) American Cancer Society recommendations for prostate cancer early detection. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/prostate-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/acs-recommendations.html. Accessed May 14, 2024.

5) Men’s Health Resource Center: mental health & well-being. Men’s Health Network. https://www.menshealthresourcecenter.com/mental-health-well-being/. Accessed May 14, 2024.

6) Defining sexual health. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/teams/sexual-and-reproductive-health-and-research/key-areas-of-work/sexual-health/defining-sexual-health. Accessed May 26, 2024.

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