By Salma El-Sakka
Men in the UK die nearly four years earlier than women from largely preventable diseases, a gap experts attribute partly to reluctance to seek medical care until problems become severe. During Movember, doctors are urging men to undergo age-appropriate health checks that can catch silent risk factors early.
Young men (18-40): Mental health and testicular cancer
Nearly one in eight men experience depression or anxiety, yet fewer than half receive treatment, said Dr Hugh Coyne, a private GP and co-founder of Coyne Medical in London. Men often mask distress through anger or overwork, with early signs including social withdrawal, loss of interest in activities, sleep issues, and substance misuse. Coyne advises consulting a GP first, as a primary care relationship opens access to medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes.
Testicular cancer, more common in younger men, has high survival rates when caught early. Coyne recommends quarterly self-examinations in the shower, noting that urinary symptoms, sexual dysfunction, or a lump warrant prompt medical attention.
Middle-aged men (40-50+): Cardiovascular disease and bowel cancer
Men typically develop coronary disease earlier than women, partly due to visceral fat linked to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. High blood pressure and diabetes are often asymptomatic until a heart attack occurs. The NHS offers free 'midlife MOT' checks for adults aged 40 to 74, measuring blood pressure, cholesterol, BMI, and waist circumference to assess cardiovascular risk.
Bowel cancer survival exceeds 90% with early detection but drops to 10% if delayed. Most cancers begin as polyps that take about a decade to become malignant. The NHS automatically sends a home Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) every two years to people aged 54 to 74 (lowering to 50 in England) to detect hidden blood in stool. Persistent changes in bowel habits, blood in stools, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, or extreme fatigue should prompt a GP visit.
Older men (50-65+): Prostate cancer and abdominal aortic aneurysms
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in UK men. While often slow-growing, some cases are aggressive. Coyne warns against dismissing urinary symptoms — such as frequent urination, weak stream, or blood in urine or semen — as normal aging. The main test is a digital rectal exam; PSA screening is available but not nationwide due to false positives. Targeted screening exists for men over 45 with the BRCA2 mutation, and Black or Afro-Caribbean men over 45 can request testing. Men over 50 can also ask for a PSA test.
Abdominal aortic aneurysms, a dangerous bulge in the body's main artery, are far more common in men and typically symptomless until rupture causes fatal bleeding. The NHS provides a one-time ultrasound screening for all men at age 65 to measure aortic diameter.
