What holds men back?
When it comes to their health, men are notoriously bad at seeking help. Sometimes embarrassment gets in the way. Often, though, it's because of outdated attitudes such as "Men don't get ill" or "Pull yourself together" - which don't help men at all.
Of course, another common reason why men delay seeking help is the false belief that if you ignore something, it will go away.
In fact, most health problems are simply and easily treated, but the longer they're left, the less this is true. Not only does early treatment mean it's more likely to be successful, but it means less worry, fewer sleepless nights, and so on.
Unlike women, men often don't ask each other for advice about health problems, but they should, because it may save a lot of unnecessary worry.
Did you know...
A recent survey of men suffering with urinary symptoms, which looked at the best way to help men with a condition called BPH, found that one in four men waited six months before seeking help, and almost 50 per cent waited over a year. Nine out of ten men with symptoms adjusted their lifestyle, for example, by avoiding travelling long distances, avoiding going to the cinema or theatre and even avoiding getting into a relationship, because they were embarrassed about their urinary symptoms.
Fearing the worst
The big fear is that a symptom will turn out to be a life-threatening illness such as cancer. Actually, most health problems are far less serious.
Take, for example, the urinary symptoms that one in three men over the age of 65 suffer: getting up at night to urinate, having to urinate more frequently during the day, feeling the need to urgently go then passing only a weak dribble. The most likely cause is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate, which can be successfully treated.
Catching it early
Other common problems include a lump in the scrotum. The chances are it's not testicular cancer. But if it is, the earlier it's diagnosed, the better - 95 per cent of men survive after treatment.
Bleeding from the back passage usually isn't cancer but it must always be checked out by a doctor and not ignored because early treatment is most successful.
Overcoming embarrassment
Women are used to talking and asking about their health
Another reason why men find it difficult to go and see the doctor is that they're frightened they'll stick out like a sore thumb. Traditionally, women are used to talking and asking about their health because they've had to go to the doctor for a variety of reasons: taking their child for immunisations, attending for family planning advice, antenatal care, cervical screening, and so on.
Many men, on the other hand, aren't used to experiencing a doctor's surgery. They may be terrified that, even if they haven't got a problem that's located below the belly button and above the knees, everyone will think they have and know why they're there.
Nowadays, men are pleasantly surprised when they go to the doctor. There will be other men in the waiting room - men who are there because of lung problems, heart problems, joint problems, rashes, in fact anything at all.
If you still can't face the doctor
Don't forget the pharmacist. It's not just condoms they provide, despite what all the jokes may suggest. The pharmacist offers excellent advice too if a man isn't quite ready for the unexplored territory of the doctor's surgery.
This article was last medically reviewed by Dr Rob Hicks in May 2005.
First published in October 1997
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