Men are often less likely than women to book a doctor’s appointment, but physicians are warning that this hesitation can be risky, particularly when four specific symptoms appear.
While some people assume this is just a cliché, the evidence suggests otherwise.
Recent U.S. health data continues to show a gap in routine care: women are more likely than men to report having a usual source of care, while men are more likely to rely on emergency departments or have no regular place they go for medical advice.
Research published in 2010, based on primary care consultation data, found that the crude consultation rate for men was 32% lower than it was for women.
Nuffield Health has also reported that 41% of men remember being told as children that “men don’t complain about health issues”.
That mindset can have serious consequences. Prostate cancer, for example, is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in the United States after non-melanoma skin cancer, and about 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with it during their lifetime. Risk increases with age, and men with a family history or Black men are at higher risk.
A more recent study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention found that across 16 cancer types, men were significantly more likely than women to receive a diagnosis at a regional stage rather than a localized stage. The biggest gaps were seen in salivary gland cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, thyroid cancer, and stomach cancer.
Doctors are keen to reverse that trend. Dr. Michael Herman, Director of Urology at Mount Sinai South Nassau, explained to The New York Post which warning signs men should not ignore.
Difficulty getting an erection is one issue many men may feel uncomfortable discussing, but it can sometimes point to a more serious underlying problem.
Doctor Herman tells the outlet this ‘could be the first sign of vascular disease’.
Cardiologist Michael Joseph Blaha also said it may be linked to heart disease.
An erection depends on healthy blood flow to the penis, so conditions that interfere with circulation can affect sexual function and may suggest that blood vessels are not working properly.
There can be several explanations, but anyone concerned should speak with a doctor. Erectile dysfunction can also be associated with diabetes, high blood pressure, stress, certain medications, and low testosterone.
Another symptom men may avoid mentioning is swelling or a lump in the testicles. Doctor Herman told the Post that ‘unusual growth could indicate testicular cancer,’ though he also noted that more harmless causes, such as fluid build-up, are often responsible.
Even so, any unusual change should be checked by a medical professional. Testicular cancer is uncommon overall, but it is most often found when a man notices a lump, swelling, or a change in the way a testicle feels.
Frequent urination is another symptom that can have a simple explanation, especially if someone has been drinking more fluids than normal.
However, it can also be associated with more serious conditions, including diabetes.
“Once a patient’s blood sugar is about 180 or so, the kidneys are no longer able to handle the extra sugar, and it spills into the urine,” Doctor Herman told the Post, which leads to ‘high urine outputs’.
In people with diabetes, frequent urination may also happen alongside excessive thirst, fatigue, blurred vision, or unexplained weight loss.
Mental health symptoms also deserve attention. Many men struggle to seek support, despite evidence showing that men’s mental health concerns often go untreated because they are less likely to ask for help.
Feeling low, overwhelmed, or anxious can of course be connected to the pressures of daily life.
But Cleveland Clinic notes that low testosterone can, over time, resemble symptoms of depression and anxiety. The organization also says testosterone levels naturally decline with age.
Men are advised to see a doctor if these feelings are accompanied by physical symptoms such as weight loss.
If testing shows low testosterone, treatment options can then be explored.
As always, anyone worried about their health should make an appointment with their doctor.