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IT ’ S GOOD TO TALK ….
Wirral Life talk to Mr Marc Lucky , Consultant Urologist and Andrological Surgeon at Spire Murrayfield Hospital Wirral
As that advert once said … it ’ s good to talk , but still even today in the 2020 ’ s men still find it difficult to open up about their health issues .
Mr . Marc Lucky is a Consultant Urologist and Andrological Surgeon at Spire Murrayfield in Wirral . He is one of very few surgeons specialising in andrological surgery in the North West and deals predominantly with men ’ s health issues . We asked him why he thought this was still the case …
What is it about men and the dislike of going to the doctor ? Men ’ s health is unique . Traditionally , men are not comfortable with talking about themselves or their health . The stereotype of having to be ‘ the strong man ’ still weighs heavy for a lot of men but , particularly in this day and age where there ’ s a huge mental health burden on the population following COVID , it ’ s more important than ever for men to discuss their problems .
We know that women are much better at talking to friends and relatives about their health , including their intimate health , whereas men still aren ’ t . Consequently , it ’ s crucial to raise awareness and encourage men to come forward if there ’ s something worrying them whether that ’ s physically or mentally .
So , is it embarrassment that ’ s the main culprit ? A couple of the areas I specialise in are psychosexual issues like erectile dysfunction or infertility problems and this isn ’ t a subject that men feel they can chat to their mates about at the pub or in a social setting .
I often find when they finally get to an appointment and I speak to them about their health issue , which is obviously having a significant impact on their life - not just physically but psychologically - they haven ’ t spoken to anyone about it – not even their partner . Anything we can do to get men talking is essential to better health and better awareness about issues before they become serious .
Can we breakdown those stereotypes ? It ' s vicious circle . Because men aren ’ t speaking about it , it perpetuates the understanding that no one else has ever faced this problem . They ’ re left feeling very alone as if they are the only one to encounter whatever the issue is , but that ’ s simply not true . We really need to break that cycle .
What advice would you have for men out there ? I can ’ t stress this enough . If you have a concern about your health , you need to speak up about it . No matter how small an issue you think it is , ask the question . You ’ re never going to know until you actually go to see your GP or seek specialist advice .
A lot of health issues that men tend to ignore , urinary issues for example , can become bigger problems . But if you think about the other side of that , we ’ re also able to provide reassurance to you if you ’ re worrying about something that isn ’ t a threat to your health . From a psychological point of view that gives you peace of mind and puts an end to any anxiety that you may have been feeling .
The worst thing you can do is to ignore any symptom that you ’ re having because often early presentation is the key . If we see you early , then we have many more options in tackling a condition and getting you the treatment that you need .
So , what ’ s the easiest way to approach this ? You can come and get a Well Man check with me at Spire . I see a lot of men who are perhaps getting older and want to get the once over to make sure everything is OK . They ’ ll get their blood tests done and their prostate examined to check on prostate cancer and many of them will come back once a year and have a Well Man check . It ’ s a good place to start and gives you the opportunity to discuss anything you ’ re concerned about .
Anyone over the age of 50 should definitely be getting a yearly Well Man check but that ’ s not an exclusive age group or anything . Many issues can be treated simply so I would encourage men of any age to discuss their health , we ’ re here to help .
At Spire Murrayfield Hospital Wirral , our consultants have wide experience in the latest techniques and innovations and our inclusive prices and access to 0 % finance options make the process easy and more affordable .
For further information on our broad range of procedures , and to find out more about our team of expert Consultants , search ‘ Spire Wirral ’ or call our specialist advisors on 0151 929 5408 .
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