Inviting men to talk with their doctors about issues “below the belt” might just save their lives, according to a new paper from Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN).
Erectile problems and waking up to urinate multiple times in the night are relatively common in men.
But rather than viewing these as taboo or just a common part of aging, researchers say such occurrences can open the door to useful conversations.
“Just a few simple questions asked in a general practice consultation could create real health benefits for men,” says Dr Sam Tafari, Andrology and Men’s Health Fellow at CALHN.
“Yes, it’s important we help men manage erectile and urinary problems directly, but beyond that we can use these experiences as entry points for engaging men in healthcare more broadly.”
Better conversations between men and their doctors can lead to earlier identification of chronic healthcare conditions such as depression, sleep apnoea, high blood pressure, elevated blood sugars, abnormal blood fats, heart attack and stroke.
Once identified, often these can be managed with simple lifestyle changes or safe medications.
Built on decades of research
Dr Tafari’s new paper was published with co-authors Professor Gary Wittert from the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Freemasons Centre for Male Health and Wellbeing, SAHMRI and University of Adelaide, along with Dr David Jesudason from The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research.
The article builds on decades of men’s health research.
“We’ve got lots of evidence that erectile dysfunction and lower urinary tract symptoms have risk factors in common with heart and blood vessel disease, diabetes, obesity, and other conditions,” says Dr Tafari.
“We also know men don’t typically bring up these topics during routine health checks, and that GPs are really busy.”
“To try and shift that dial, we propose it’s important to improve men’s awareness about the significance of these experiences, and that we should encourage healthcare providers to actively enquire about erectile and urinary issues during consultations,” says Dr Tafari.
Dr Tafari says even just a quick query towards the end of a GP appointment could make a difference.
“A quick ‘before-you-go’ question might lead to a patient revealing that yes, he does get up multiple times at night, and his sex life has been a bit challenging lately,” he says.
“Then the GP can follow up with a subsequent appointment and more detailed conversations and checks to screen for other health conditions if indicated.”
A specialist in hormones
Dr Tafari is completing advanced training in endocrinology – the field of health that focuses on hormones – and a master’s degree in public health. He is funded by a grant from the Hospital Research Foundation.
His year as Andrology and Men’s Health Fellow at CALHN has both research and clinical components.
“I enjoy being an advocate for men’s health, and it’s an interesting field to be in,” says Dr Tafari.
He aims to continue his work on men’s health with a PhD project in the future.
Read the research
Dr Tafari’s paper was published with open access in the Journal of Men’s Health, August 2024: ”Before you go”—considering genitourinary symptoms as a sentinel indicator of the presence of, or risk for, chronic disorders in men.
