Common Men’s Health Concerns and the Treatments Available
Men can experience a wide range of health concerns throughout adulthood, but some are particularly easy to ignore or put off discussing.
Changes in sexual function, hair loss or urinary symptoms can sometimes feel embarrassing, while other problems may simply be accepted as part of getting older. In reality, many common men’s health conditions can be managed effectively once the cause has been properly identified.
Here are some of the most common concerns and the treatment approaches that may be considered.
Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction, sometimes known as ED, is when a man regularly has difficulty getting or maintaining an erection that is firm enough for sex.
Occasional erection problems are very common and can be triggered by stress, tiredness or drinking too much alcohol. When the problem keeps happening, however, it is worth looking at the possible underlying cause.
ED can be associated with conditions including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties and some medicines can also contribute.
Treatment therefore depends partly on what is causing the problem.
Lifestyle changes can be helpful, particularly where cardiovascular risk factors are involved. These may include losing excess weight, increasing physical activity, stopping smoking, limiting excessive alcohol consumption and managing conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
Medicines known as PDE-5 inhibitors are also commonly used to treat ED. They work by temporarily increasing blood flow to the penis when a man is sexually aroused. Different options are available, and suitability depends on factors such as other medicines being taken and existing medical conditions.
Men experiencing persistent erection problems can explore erectile dysfunction treatment options such as Viagra following an appropriate clinical assessment.
It is particularly important not to simply ignore persistent ED. In some cases it can be associated with underlying cardiovascular or metabolic health problems, making a health assessment worthwhile even if the immediate concern is sexual performance.
Premature Ejaculation
Premature ejaculation is another common sexual health concern. It refers to ejaculation happening sooner than a man or his partner would like and becoming a persistent source of difficulty or distress.
There is no single cause.
Psychological factors such as stress, performance anxiety and relationship difficulties can contribute, while physical causes can sometimes include prostate or thyroid problems.
Treatment can therefore include both behavioural and medical approaches.
Behavioural techniques may help some men gain greater control over ejaculation, while psychosexual counselling can be useful when anxiety, relationship difficulties or other psychological factors are contributing.
Certain topical anaesthetic preparations can reduce sensitivity, and medicines may also be considered for some men following an assessment by an appropriate healthcare professional.
Occasional early ejaculation is extremely common. Treatment is generally more relevant when the problem happens regularly and causes distress.
Male Pattern Hair Loss
Hair loss can affect men at almost any age, although male pattern baldness becomes increasingly common as men get older.
It typically causes a receding hairline or thinning around the crown and is strongly influenced by genetics and sensitivity to the hormone dihydrotestosterone, or DHT.
The two main treatments commonly used for male pattern hair loss are minoxidil and finasteride.
Minoxidil is applied to the scalp and can help promote or maintain hair growth in some men.
Finasteride is a prescription medicine that reduces the conversion of testosterone into DHT. Lowering DHT can slow further hair loss and may lead to some regrowth.
Neither treatment works for everybody, and any benefit generally depends on continuing treatment.
It is also worth getting unexplained or sudden hair loss assessed before assuming it is male pattern baldness. Hair shedding can occasionally be associated with illness, stress, nutritional deficiencies or other medical conditions.
Urinary Problems and an Enlarged Prostate
Urinary symptoms also become increasingly common as men get older.
These can include needing to urinate more frequently, waking during the night to urinate, difficulty starting the flow of urine or feeling that the bladder has not completely emptied.
One possible cause is benign prostate enlargement.
This means the prostate has increased in size but is not cancerous. Treatment depends on how troublesome the symptoms are.
Mild symptoms may initially be managed with lifestyle measures, such as reducing drinks before bedtime and moderating caffeine or alcohol where these worsen symptoms.
Medicines can also be prescribed to relax the muscles around the prostate and bladder or gradually reduce the size of the prostate.
New or persistent urinary symptoms should nevertheless be assessed rather than automatically attributed to ageing. Similar symptoms can have several different causes.
Mental Health Can Affect Physical Health Too
Men’s health should not be thought of as purely physical.
Stress, anxiety and depression can affect sleep, energy, motivation, relationships and sexual function. They can also make it harder to maintain healthy habits such as exercising regularly or eating well.
Talking therapies, lifestyle changes and, where appropriate, medication can all form part of treatment for mental health conditions.
Seeking help earlier can make a considerable difference, particularly when symptoms have started to interfere with work, relationships or everyday life.
Do Not Assume Every Problem Is Just Part of Ageing
Many health changes become more common with age, but that does not mean they always need to be accepted without investigation.
Persistent erectile dysfunction, significant changes in urination, unexplained hair loss, sexual difficulties or changes in mood can all have treatable causes.
Lifestyle changes are often an important part of improving men’s health, but they are not always the complete answer. Depending on the condition, treatment might involve medication, behavioural techniques, counselling or management of an underlying health problem.
The most useful starting point is identifying what is actually causing the symptoms rather than choosing a treatment based on guesswork.
For many common men’s health concerns, effective treatments are available — and getting appropriate advice can help ensure the treatment chosen is both suitable and safe.
