Men's Health

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Summary

Why is men's health important?

Many men may not realize how important it is to take care of their health. Compared to women, men are more likely to smoke, drink alcohol, take part in behaviors such as unsafe driving or unprotected sex, and delay regular checkups or medical care.

Some conditions only affect men, like prostate cancer and low testosterone. But many of the major health risks men face, such as colon cancer and heart disease, can often be prevented, or if caught early, managed more effectively. Regular screening tests can help find diseases early, when they are easier to treat. Making healthy choices and getting recommended screenings can help you stay well.

How can screening tests help prevent serious illness?

Screening tests look for a disease before symptoms appear, when it's often easier to treat. Regular screening can catch conditions like colon cancer, prostate cancer, and heart disease early. The screenings you need depend on your age and health history. They may include screening for:

Talk to your health care provider about which tests are right for you.

What steps can men take to improve their health?

Making healthy choices every day can help you feel your best and prevent health problems. Here are a few steps to start with:

Get the screening tests and recommended checkups for your age
Quit smoking (or don't start)
Limit alcohol use
Pay attention to your mental health and get support if you need it
Talk with your provider about your family health history

Start Here

Men: Take Charge of Your Health (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

Testosterone Therapy: Potential Benefits and Risks as You Age (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

Sex and Gender: How Being Male or Female Can Affect Your Health (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish
Supplements and Men's Health (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics)

Specifics

Belly Fat in Men: Why Weight Loss Matters (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Cancer and Men (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
Men and Mental Health (National Institute of Mental Health)
Men's Reproductive Health (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
Osteoporosis in Men (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) Also in Spanish

Test Your Knowledge

Screening Tests for Men Quiz (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Statistics and Research

FastStats: Men's Health (National Center for Health Statistics)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Find an Expert

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
AMA Find a Doctor (American Medical Association)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

Could you have low testosterone? (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Testosterone (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish