What are some of the most common health concerns for men?

From prostate health or testicular cancer to hair loss and overall fitness, men can face a variety of health concerns; particularly as they get older. But, when there’s a health issue, men are less likely to seek professional help than women.¹

Pedro Santos, registered nurse in AXA Health's 24/7 health support line for members, highlights whether you’re feeling low, struggling to keep fit or you have symptoms that could point to something more serious, it’s important not to ignore it.

1) Ageing

It’s increasingly important to look after our physical and mental health as we get older. As hormone levels change and immune systems weaken, we become more susceptible to certain health conditions.

You may also experience gradual changes. You may feel like you have less energy or that your memory isn’t as good as it was. And it could take longer to recover from an illness or injury.

These are natural changes that happen to all of us, so it's important to maintain a healthy lifestyle and make sure you’re doing all you can to look after yourself. Areas to consider include:

Sleep – Sleep allows our minds and bodies to recharge, repair and relax. Try and get to bed at the same time and aim for around seven to nine hours of sleep every night.

Healthy habits – Avoid drinking too much alcohol, stop smoking cigarettes and make sure you eat enough fruit and veg into your diet. This is always good advice, but it’s particularly important as we get older.

Water – Drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water is important for the immune system, energy, digestion, maintaining a healthy weight, organ function and healthy skin. So, we need to stay hydrated.

Exercise – Regular exercise is always important. As you get older, try and focus on movements that will benefit you the most. Swimming instead of running, for example, can aid mobility and flexibility without damaging the joints.

Mind health – Brain training exercises, such as puzzles, can improve memory and help you stay alert. Meanwhile, mindfulness exercises are great for easing stress levels and understanding your emotions.

Health screenings

• From age 40: Cholesterol and blood pressure checks should be considered.
• From age 45: If at risk, add on diabetes screening.
• From age 50: Recommended cancer screening for men would be for bowel cancer but discussions about prostate cancer should be had with GP, as there’s no current screening programme.

>For more information on what to expect and look out for as you get older, check out our article, What happens as we get older?

2) Obesity and weight gain

One of the most common health issues for men is weight-management. In the UK 67% of men are overweight or obese.²

The word ‘obese’ describes someone who’s overweight because of excess body fat. Obesity increases the risk of numerous health conditions including diabetes, arthritis, various cancers, and heart disease, which is the leading cause of death for men in the UK.³

A relatively straightforward way to find out if you’re obese, and to determine what a healthy weight would be, is to calculate your body mass index (BMI) score. While this isn’t used to diagnose obesity, it’s a useful indication.

You can work out your score by entering your weight and height into the NHS BMI healthy weight calculator. Then cross-reference your score as follows:

• 18.5 to 24.9 = healthy weight
• 25 to 29.9 = overweight
• 30 to 39.9 = obese
• 40 or above = severely obese

The best way to curb weight gain or address obesity is to make lifestyle changes. This could include reducing your calorie intake and making sure you stay active. If you’re obese or severely obese, it’s important to lose weight safely, which could involve speaking to a doctor about the best approach for you.

General first steps for this are:

Consider healthy food choices:

• Incorporate whole grains (e.g., brown rice, quinoa), lean proteins (e.g. chicken, fish), and healthy fats (e.g., avocados, nuts).
• Aim for at least five portions of fruits and vegetables daily, such as berries, leafy greens, and carrots.

Exercise guidelines

• Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week, such as brisk walking or cycling.
• Include strength training exercises (e.g. weightlifting, resistance bands) at least twice a week.

>For more information and ideas on how to look after yourself as you get older, check out our latest article on Obesity and weight gain.

3) Coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common cause of heart attacks and was the leading cause of death for both men and women throughout the world, as per the latest 2023 stats.⁴

CHD is caused when the blood supply to the heart is obstructed by fatty deposits building up in the coronary arteries. Some of the main symptoms of CHD include:

• angina (chest pain or discomfort),
• shortness of breath,
• feeling faint or nauseous.

Not everyone will experience the same symptoms, and some of us may not have any. There are several risk factors, including obesity, smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. If your doctor feels you’re at risk, they might carry out an assessment and conduct tests to make a diagnosis.

To reduce your risk of coronary heart disease, or to treat it in the first instance, doctors usually recommend lifestyle changes.

These may include:

• exercise,
• healthy eating,
• lowering your alcohol intake
• and quitting smoking, if you smoke.

Other treatments include medication, angioplasty (a medical procedure used to open narrowed or blocked coronary arteries, often involving the placement of a small mesh tube called a stent to keep the artery open) and surgery.

Our article on coronary heart disease includes more information on the causes of CHD, as well as the lifestyle changes that can help prevent it.

4) Testicular cancer

Though it’s classified as rare, testicular cancer is still the more common cancer among men in their early 30s. Around 2,400 men in the UK are diagnosed with testicular cancer each year,⁵ so it’s important to check yourself regularly. The symptoms to look out for include:

• a hard lump on the testicle,
• swelling of the testicle,
• an ache, pain or feeling of ‘heaviness’ in the area,
• one testicle becoming enlarged (please note it’s normal for one to be larger than the other).

We’re talking about a very sensitive area of the body, so there are plenty of other causes for lumps, aches and pains. There’s every chance a lump might be a cyst or damaged blood vessel, for example, so there’s no need to be alarmed if you discover something that doesn’t feel quite right.

But you still need to get it checked by a doctor.

Checking

Advice from Macmillan states that, “from puberty onwards, it is important to check your testicles regularly”. The more often you examine yourself, the more familiar you’ll be with what ‘normal’ feels like. This will help you identify any irregularities.

Method for self-examination

Gently roll each testicle between your thumb and fingers, feeling for any lumps or changes in size. Do this during or after a warm shower when the scrotum is relaxed.

Testing and treatment

Any lump, pain, or swelling needs to be checked by a doctor. They’ll test to confirm the cause and develop an appropriate treatment plan if necessary.

The three main courses of action are: surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. With early detection, treatment is highly likely to be successful, so it’s important to get checked out as soon as possible if you’re concerned.

Read our article, Testicular cancer – the symptoms and treatment, for expert insight and detailed information on the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment for testicular cancer.

5) Prostate health

The prostate is a small gland, around the size of a walnut, which sits under the bladder and in front of the rectum. It produces the fluid that mixes with sperm to create semen and, as you get older, it tends to increase in size.

It’s very common in men over the age of 50 to have an enlarged prostate, or ‘benign prostate enlargement’.

An enlarged prostate can affect urination, though not everyone experiences issues. If symptoms become troublesome, they can be treated but an enlarged prostate isn’t cancer, nor does it increase the likelihood of getting cancer. The symptoms requiring attention are:

• frequent urination at night (nocturia),
• a weak urinary stream,
• pain in the lower back, hips, or pelvis that does not go away.

>Read our article on Prostate health and prostate cancer for more information.

6) Prostate cancer

According to Prostate Cancer UK, one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.⁶ Prostate cancer develops slowly and often has no symptoms, particularly early on.

The symptoms that do exist tend to be subtle and difficult to detect, but they include:

• needing to urinate urgently,
• difficulty in urinating (if the flow stops, starts or you have to strain to urinate),
• urinating frequently (particularly at night), or feeling like you can't fully empty your bladder,
• pain when urinating, or blood in the urine or semen (these are rare),
• severe weight loss,
• lower back pain or bone pain.

There are, of course, plenty of benign conditions that could cause these symptoms, but it’s worth seeing your GP if you’re concerned. Particularly if you’re over 50, as the chances of developing prostate cancer increase as you get older.

7) Mental health

Many men keep quiet when they’re struggling and don’t seek help. Men are less likely to access psychological therapies than women, with only 36% of referrals to NHS talking therapies being men.⁷

Societal expectations and outdated macho stereotypes can make it difficult for men to open up or even admit they need support. But not seeking help can have profound consequences. The suicide rate for males in England and Wales increased to 17.4 deaths per 100,000 in 2023, from 16.4 deaths per 100,000 in 2022; this is the highest rate for males since 1999.⁸

>Take a moment to read our article on Why do men find it difficult to ask for help?

It’s as important to look after our mental health as it is our physical health. And just as there are multiple factors that affect us physically, there are many issues that can cause us to suffer mentally, including:

• stress at work, and / or burnout
• relationship problems
• isolation
• drug / alcohol use
• physical health problems,
• financial issues.

These issues affect us all, and everyone struggles from time to time. It’s important to maintain our mental health to make sure we can cope with setbacks and ensure they don’t turn into long-term issues.

There are plenty of ways you can manage your wellbeing, from exercise and meditation to speaking to a professional. Our Mental health hub has lots of articles that can help too. 

8) Fertility

Fertility is often something people don’t worry or think about until it’s time to start a family. But around one in seven couples have difficulty conceiving⁹ and low sperm count can make it harder to conceive, with it happening to men of any age.¹⁰

There are genetic and hormonal conditions that can affect the sperm, but our lifestyle can also play a big part. Common causes of a low sperm count include:

• being overweight or obese,
• using recreational drugs,
• smoking,
• drinking too much alcohol,
• certain medications,
• sexually transmitted infections.

So, by cutting out smoking and other toxins, moderating alcohol intake and exercising, you stand a better chance of maintaining a good sperm count, whether it’s a concern now or in the future.

But if you and your partner have been struggling to conceive for over a year, it’s worth visiting your GP. They’ll be able to conduct tests and offer advice as to next steps and available options.

9) Hair loss

Hair loss is extremely common for men. The age of onset of hair loss is usually between 20–25 years old, and the prevalence and severity increases with age. In general, 30% of white men are affected by age 30 years, 50% by age 50 years, and 80% by age 70 years.¹¹

This includes everything from male pattern baldness to a receding hairline or thinning of the hair. It’s different for everyone, and several factors can cause it.

Genes – It’s thought that most men go bald due to an inherited condition called androgenetic alopecia.

Diet and nutrition – Being deficient in certain nutrients, such as iron and vitamin D, can impact hair loss.

Smoking – Smoking can cause hair loss by affecting hormones and damaging hair follicles.

Stress – Stress hormones have many potential effects on the body, one of which is hair loss.

Supplements – Taking anabolic steroids or testosterone hormone replacement can replicate the causes of androgenetic alopecia.

Hair loss is a natural part of aging, and nothing to be ashamed of. However, for further information and suggestions on how to treat the causes of hair loss, check out our article, What you should know about male hair loss.

References

1. Understanding of health and access to services – Men’s Health Forum
2. Trends in adult overweight and obesity – Health Survey for England 2022
3. UK Factsheet 2025 – British Heart Foundation
4. Coronary Heart Disease – British Heart Foundation
5. What is testicular cancer? – Cancer Research UK
6. About prostate cancer – Prostate Cancer UK
7. Mental Health Statistics – Mental Health Foundation
8. Suicides in England and Wales, 2023 – Office for National Statistics
9. Infertility overview – NHS
10. Low sperm count – NHS
11. Male patter hair loss – NICE