Men's health
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Unit 606
October 2023
The purpose of this activity is to learn approaches to managing androgen use, misuse and abuse and body dysmorphic disorder; to assessing male infertility; and to building confidence in accessing healthcare among all communities, in line with the Australian National Men’s Health Strategy 2020–2030.
The Australian National Men’s Health Strategy 2020–2030 identifies five priority health issues:
The strategy notes also that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males have higher rates of fatal and non-fatal burden than non-Indigenous males for almost every health condition and have a high prevalence of risk factors and risk-taking behaviours.
If they are equipped with knowledge about the barriers and enablers for males accessing health care, and have the skills to respond with a gendered and culturally appropriate lens, general practitioners can create a more comfortable and supportive environment for male patients, encouraging them to discuss and respond to their health concerns proactively.
In general, men use health services less than women but this should not be misinterpreted as reflecting a lack of men’s interest in their own health or avoidance of healthcare. Most Australian men (95%) consider their health important, but not as many of them engage often or regularly with primary healthcare services.
At the end of this activity, participants will be able to:
Below is a list of the case studies found in this month's edition of check. To see how these case studies unfold and gain valuable insights into this months topic, log into gplearning to complete the course.
James, aged 22 years, is currently studying business at university and working part-time in an accounting firm. He plays football in the local league and attends the gym regularly for strength training. James has a female partner but is not looking to settle down or start a family. James attends for a medical review after prompting from his partner because his libido has diminished, their frequency of sexual activity has declined and he has been feeling quite tired for several months now.
Michael, aged 59 years, is a businessman. He presents with lifestyle-related health decline. He has clearly gained weight. His key concerns are that during the past three months he has been feeling more tired, and he falls asleep on the couch after dinner. He feels all he does is work and sleep, and that he is not enjoying life as much. He also advises he has lost interest in sex.
Luke, aged 32 years, and Linda, aged 29 years, would like to start a family in the next 12 months. Luke is a plumber and has his own business. Linda has prompted Luke to make this appointment. Luke has not seen a doctor for several years. Luke states he is generally in good health, although he is often quite tired and wants to have more energy as he prepares to start a family in the coming year.
Adam (aged 31 years) and Louise (aged 33 years) have been trying to conceive for two years. Louise has undergone fertility assessment and there is no female factor identified to delay or prevent conception. They have regular intercourse and have both adopted health-promoting behaviours to optimise pre-conception health and maximise chances of conceiving.
Nathan, aged 27 years, comes to see you to request blood tests because he is worried there may be something affecting his progress at the gym. Despite regularly attending the gym and watching what he eats, he feels his progression is too slow.
Tom, an Aboriginal male aged 46 years, has diabetes and hypertension but has not been attending medical appointments for regular review and monitoring. Tom has been feeling increasingly tired and has low libido. When yarning (an informal and respectful conversation) at a local community meeting, Tom was encouraged to visit the locum doctor by a trusted friend and mentor.
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Each unit of check comprises approximately five clinical cases, and the choice of cases will cover the broad spectrum of the unit’s topic. Each unit will be led by a GP with an interest and capability in the topic, and they will scope the five different cases for that unit in collaboration with the check team.