Latest news with #menhealth
CNA
a day ago
- Health
- CNA
Deep Dive - Silent expectations and fatal outcomes: The suicide risk men face
Deep Dive - Silent expectations and fatal outcomes: The suicide risk men face Singapore reported 314 suicides in 2024, with the sharpest increase among adults aged 30 to 39. Nearly two-thirds were men. What pressures do these groups face? And what are the warning signs? Otelli Edwards and Steven Chia speak with Dr Jared Ng, a psychiatrist and the former chief of emergency and crisis care at the Institute of Mental Health, and Eugene Chong, counselling psychologist at Seeding Minds.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Bridlington man survives breast cancer after daughter's plea
A grandfather who was diagnosed with breast cancer after his daughter encouraged him to see a doctor says he may not have otherwise Firth, 79, from Bridlington, went on to have a double mastectomy after Rachel Firth, 48, recognised his symptoms. Ms Firth said there needed to be more public awareness of breast cancer in men and greater awareness among medical said checking for breast cancer was seen as "very female" and she feels men are "getting forgotten". In June 2017, Mr Firth said he noticed an itch under his arm while changing. His daughter, a pharmacy technician, noticed one of his nipples was inverted, something he had noticed but not paid much attention to. She also noticed a small lump to the seeing the doctor, the grandfather-of-three was diagnosed, had surgery and returned to work within two weeks. His left breast was removed along with his lymph nodes and he had six months of treatment including chemotherapy and the end of his treatment he said he was "glad" to ring a bell on the hospital wall to signal he had completed his treatment before getting the "all clear" about six months Firth said he never thought, as a man, breast cancer would affect said when people found out they were in disbelief. 'Everything's pink' Ms Firth said, when her father went for a breast cancer check-up, a nurse thought he was in the wrong place and another assumed she was having a said: "Everything's pink. Every picture, every pamphlet, everything that is towards breast cancer has got a woman on the front."Mr Firth was diagnosed with breast cancer again in February last year and had surgery to remove his right breast. He said he is now doing well. He is taking part in a parachute jump and a fashion catwalk later this month to raise money for multiple charities. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices
Khaleej Times
08-07-2025
- Health
- Khaleej Times
'Will it make me less of a man?': Vasectomy in UAE remains a stigma, say doctors
Although vasectomy is widely regarded around the world as a simple, safe, and long-term method of birth control, it remains one of the most misunderstood procedures in the UAE. Misconceptions tied to masculinity, reversibility, and sexual function have kept interest low — even as more men are quietly discussing it in online spaces and behind closed doors. Take Karim (name withheld upon request), a 34-year-old Abu Dhabi resident who first explored the option in 2019. His inquiry at a local clinic was met with confusion. 'The receptionist told me, 'We don't do that here. It's illegal in the UAE,'' he recalled. 'But I knew it wasn't, I had already researched it online.' Determined, Karim continued searching until he found a private provider offering a non-scalpel vasectomy. The entire procedure took less than 30 minutes and caused minimal discomfort. Yet, what lingered wasn't the physical pain — it was the stigma. 'Even the doctor asked me if my wife (had) agreed. I had to assure him it wasn't a midlife crisis," he said. Karim explained that the decision was not impulsive — it was a deeply considered, mutual decision. 'My wife has a chronic medical condition that makes pregnancy risky. We both knew early on we didn't want to take that chance, and I didn't want her to go through years of hormonal birth control just because I was afraid of a simple procedure.' Low awareness Despite being proven as one of the most effective and affordable long-term contraception methods for men, vasectomy uptake in the Middle East remains limited. A 2021 study published in Urology Annals revealed that only 13 per cent of men in a Middle Eastern sample had even heard of the procedure. Just 0.4 per cent had undergone the procedure. Researchers pointed to religious beliefs, social pressure, and poor public health awareness as key barriers. 'There are massive misconceptions,' said Dr Hossam Zeitoun, a consultant urologist based in Abu Dhabi. 'The most common fears are about impotence, testosterone loss, or being less of a man. None of these are true, but they're deeply ingrained.' What a vasectomy really involves A vasectomy is a minor operation that involves cutting or blocking the vas deferens — the tubes that carry sperm — thereby preventing pregnancy. The non-scalpel version, widely used today, requires just a small puncture rather than stitches, with patients typically recovering within 48 hours. 'It has no impact on hormones or sexual performance,' Dr Zeitoun emphasised. 'Men will still produce semen; it simply won't contain sperm. But many still don't understand that." Financial and systemic barriers Beyond misinformation and misconceptions, a lack of financial and institutional support also discourages men from considering the procedure. While the procedure is legally allowed in the UAE, it is rarely covered by private health insurance. 'Costs typically range from Dh4,000 to Dh10,000,' said Dr Mohammed Arif, a Dubai-based urologist. 'It's considered an elective procedure, so most patients end up paying out of pocket.' Adding to the challenge is a lack of national education or public health campaigns promoting male sterilisation — unlike the global efforts around female contraceptives. A conversation still behind closed doors With little open dialogue in mainstream settings in the UAE, many men — especially expats — turn to anonymous platforms like Reddit or private Facebook groups to seek information or anonymously share personal experiences. 'Some patients come in already informed, others ask things like 'Will I lose my sex drive?' or 'Will people know?'' said Dr Arif. 'That shows you how private and misunderstood this still is.' Karim said that even now, he hasn't told most of his family or friends about the procedure. 'We didn't want kids, and that's our decision. But I don't want to spend time explaining that I'm not broken or selfish. It's just personal.'
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Yes, men have a pelvic floor too... and ignoring it could lead to devastating consequences
They're usually only thought to affect women, especially those who have just given birth or are in the throes of menopause. In fact, as many as one in three women will be diagnosed in their lifetime with pelvic floor dysfunction, a condition that makes it difficult to relax or control the muscles around the bladder, bowels and sex organs. Though the pelvic floor is most often associated with women, men have this group of muscles as well, which also support their bladder and bowels, as well as their prostate. And experts warn pelvic floor dysfunction has become increasingly common in men, leaving them prone to incontinence, painful sex, infections and erectile dysfunction. Urologists and physical therapists told men are more likely to ignore telltale symptoms like bladder urgency, constipation, bladder and rectal pain and trouble getting an erection. Age, obesity, recent injuries or surgical trauma have all been linked to the embarrassing condition. But even otherwise healthy lifestyle habits like heavy lifting could loosen or tighten muscles in young, fit men. Doctors also told this website while pelvic floor dysfunction is not linked to deadly conditions like cancer, leaving it untreated can severely worsen a man's quality of life. Dr David Shusterman, a urologist at Modern Urologist in New York City, told 'It's a quality of life problem, not a quantity of life problem.' Dr Leia Rispoli, an interventional pain management specialist and physiatrist at DISC Sports & Spine Center in California, told this website: 'If left untreated, this can obviously lead to not only social and mental health issues for men but also having chronic constipation issues or chronic urinary issues can lead to further organ issues down the road.' Exact estimates vary, but recent research suggests as many as one in six men in the US - 27million - may suffer from pelvic floor dysfunction. Most of these men are between 30 and 50, Dr Shusterman estimates. The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and ligaments that support bladder, bowel and uterus in a women and bladder, bowel and prostate in a man. Men also have a unique set of pelvic floor muscles called the urogenital triangle, which includes the penis, urethra and scrotum. These all help a man achieve and maintain an erection and support healthy ejaculation. Pelvic floor dysfunction occurs when these muscles can't properly loosen and relax or contract, leading to trouble passing urine or stool, or, on the flip side, urinary or bowel incontinence. Men specifically may also suffer pain around their penis, testicles, scrotum, rectum and tailbone due to tension and pressure. Pelvic trauma, surgery, stress, anxiety and sitting for long periods of time are most likely to weaken pelvic floor muscles over time. Chronic constipation from conditions like irritable bowel syndrome may also lead to excess straining. Dr Shusterman said: 'If you're in the bathroom and you're just pushing very hard, that would also cause some pelvic floor dysfunction. You're just kind of overusing the muscles there.' Minor injuries may also be to blame. Dr Rispoli said even something 'as small as someone falling onto their buttocks during a snowboard accident' could be enough to 'begin the cycle of persistent pelvic pain.' Intensive exercise also creates pressure in the area. Weightlifting and body weight exercises like squats, for example, push down on the pelvis and lead to pressure. 'A lot of it just goes straight down to the pelvic floor,' Dr Shusterman said. Dr Shusterman notes it's 'hard to diagnose' pelvic floor dysfunction in men because it can masquerade as other conditions like prostatitis - inflammation of the prostate gland - and constipation. 'It's a diagnosis of exclusion,' he said, meaning other conditions have to be ruled out first. However, pelvic floor dysfunction has become increasingly common in men, which could be due to increased awareness. Earlier this year, the American Urological Association released new guidelines encouraging doctors to pay more attention to pelvic floor issues in men and refer them to appropriate providers. Dr Rispoli said: 'It's more common for women to have pelvic issues and feel like they have a gynecologist they can go to or urogynecologist that treats what they have, and men feel a little bit more resistant to be able to get help from the appropriate specialist [for] pelvic floor dysfunction.' To prevent and improve pelvic floor issues, Dr Shusterman recommends lifting or doing squats from an inclined position to 'push upward instead of downward.' Cyclists can also invest in a 'prostate seat' for their bike, which has a cutout in the center to take pressure off the perineum, the area between the genitals and the anus. Treatment is largely focused on long-term physical therapy to work on the muscles rather than medication. Dr Shusterman said: 'The goal is to try to build up the pelvic muscles a little bit better.' This is done with biofeedback, which uses sensors to monitor muscle activity and translate it into visual or auditory cues on a computer screen so users can see the behavior. Shockwave therapy can also help restore blood flow to the pelvic floor, further strengthening it. 'It's a longer term issue and whatever the problems are that brought this on need to continue to be treated,' Dr Shusterman added.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Men are not OK, report on premature deaths in Canada suggests
About 44 per cent of men living in Canada die prematurely, according to a new report from the Movember Institute of Men's Health. The report defines premature mortality as deaths in men before age 75. The deaths from cancer, coronary heart disease, accidents, suicide and the opioid crisis include some causes that might have been prevented through vaccinations, lifestyle changes like quitting smoking or avoiding injuries. In 2023, almost 75,000 males died prematurely, according to Statistics Canada. "We're here because too many men are dying too young from largely preventable causes," Catherine Corriveau of Movember Canada said at a news conference on Parliament Hill on Thursday. Suicide was the fourth leading cause of premature death in males after cancer, coronary heart disease and accidents. Three in four of the deaths by suicide in Canada were men, Corriveau said. While the report looks at the health needs of men overall, the group noted those statistics were much worse for Indigenous men or men living in vulnerable communities. Stigma, gender bias and low health literacy are long-standing barriers that often prevent men from seeking care until it's too late, the report's authors said. The impact extends to families, communities and the economy. Fathers and sons learn together Niigaan Sinclair, a co-author of the report and professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of Manitoba, said one solution is to have fathers and sons learn together. He gave an example during a recent fathers' weekend where he spoke and saw boys and men who grew up without fathers or uncles learning skills like how to tie their shoes, do a puzzle or build a lodge together. "That young man who has become a father, he too didn't learn that because he wasn't able to, because many of those ceremonies in his community were gutted and removed," said Sinclair, who is also the son of the late Senator Murray Sinclair, the first Indigenous person appointed as a judge in Manitoba and chief commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission into residential schools. "Making mistakes together, learning humility together, learning to laugh together at themselves, but then ultimately making something together that they could be proud of. That's truly what I think a goal would be for any program that would teach healthy Indigenous masculinity or Indigenous manhood." WATCH | Black men discuss Black masculinity, dating and fatherhood: Those lessons could help men avoid outcomes like jail, hospitalization or premature death, Sinclair said, while also benefiting families and their communities. The report also suggests embracing the power of sport to promote health. Experiences with seeking help The report's authors also analyzed national mortality trends. Previously, the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) said deaths from preventable causes were twice that for men than women. The Movember report included a nationally representative poll of more than 1,500 men on their experiences engaging with primary care. Only about 48 per cent of respondents said they felt actively listened to during a first health-care interaction. "If they don't feel listened to and if they don't feel cared for, they might not show up again," Corriveau said. Dr. Vincent Agyapong, a professor and head of psychiatry at Dalhousie University, said he was surprised by that finding. "It reflects that health-care providers need to listen more empathetically," said Agyapong, who was not involved in the report and welcomed the authors' multi-pronged approach to mental health that isn't one-size-fits-all. "It's always very difficult for men to reach out and seek help," Agyapong said. Prioritize mental health literacy When men do seek help, Agyapong said, it's important that health-care providers are sensitive and focus on the main concern that brought the person in off the bat, instead of launching into a checklist of background questions. Agyapong said schools and workplaces should prioritize mental health literacy, providing men with resources to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental disorders and know they are treatable with medications and psychological approaches. Mental health promotion for men at risk will lead to more people seeking healthcare such as psychological help earlier on when they are distressed rather than trying to manage themselves or turning to alcohol and drugs, which can be risk factors themselves, Agyapong said. Corriveau said Canada has an opportunity to address the challenges of health promotion by developing a national men's health strategy to respond to their health-care needs. Australia and the U.K. have already done so. If you or someone you know is struggling, here's where to look for help:
