International Men’s Day: Strengthening Men’s Health Through Prevention, Early Screening and Support

文章作者: Dr. Ooi Poh Siang, Family Medicine Specialist

19 November 2025

International Men's Day is celebrated annually on November 19th. It serves as an important reminder and opportunity to highlight men’s health issues which are often overlooked, under-discussed and under-diagnosed. Men today are facing increasing physical, mental and social health challenges — yet many still do not seek medical help early, delay screening, or tend to normalize unhealthy lifestyle behaviours. This article aims to raise awareness, promote early prevention, and encourage men to take proactive steps towards better health and quality of life.

1) Life Expectancy in Malaysia

Recent national statistics show that men in Malaysia continue to have shorter life expectancy compared to women. Male life expectancy is approximately 73.1 years, while female life expectancy is around 77.9 years. This pattern is consistent across major ethnic groups including Malay, Chinese and Indian. These differences reflect not only biological factors but also lifestyle behaviours, hazardous exposures, and lower engagement in preventive healthcare among men.

2) Risk Behaviours in Men

Risk behaviours are key contributors to early morbidity and mortality in Malaysian men.

Smoking
- The prevalence of smoking among men in Malaysia remains high at 35.7%, compared to only 1.5% among women. Among the smokers, 41% have no plan to quit, while only 9% and 13% plan to quit within the next one month and one year respectively. Those who wish to quit but are unsure how to begin are encouraged to seek guidance from healthcare professionals.
Drug Use
- Drug misuse is also disproportionately higher in men. Data indicates approximately 23,000 male drug addicts vs 1,000 females.
Alcohol Use
- About 1 in 10 adults in Malaysia drank alcohol in the past 12 months. Among these drinkers, half consumed alcohol excessively (more than 6 units / 60g alcohol in a single session), and 75% of them are men.

These risk behaviours significantly increase the risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, erectile dysfunction, mental health disorders, injury, and premature death.

3) Cancer Burden in Men

Cancer continues to be a major cause of morbidity among Malaysian males. The top three cancer incidence rates in men are:

Colorectal cancer: 18.8 per 100,000
Lung, trachea & bronchus cancer: 16 per 100,000
Prostate cancer: 9.3 per 100,000

Colorectal Cancer Screening
- Screening is recommended via fecal occult blood test or colonoscopy depending on individual risk factors and age group.
Lung Cancer Screening
- Low-dose CT thorax screening is appropriate for individuals who are 50–80 years old, with a minimum smoking history of 20 pack-years, and who still smoke or have quit within the last 15 years.
Prostate Cancer Screening
- Prostate cancer screening can be done with a blood test called Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) and physical examination which requires shared decision making. Men considering prostate cancer screening are encouraged to learn about the potential benefits and limitations, discuss with healthcare providers and decide based on personal values and individual risk factors.

4) Erectile Dysfunction (ED)

Erectile dysfunction is far more common than many believe. Among sexually active Malaysian men aged 18 and above, 47.1% had probable mild ED and 31.6% had probable moderate to severe ED. Overall, the prevalence of probable ED was 78.7%, significantly higher than the 60% reported more than two decades ago.

This rise parallels an increase in chronic non-communicable diseases in the past twenty years. While higher prevalence in older age groups is expected, the presence of ED among younger men suggests psychological contributors such as stress, unrealistic expectations, low self-esteem and performance anxiety. Organic causes including cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, neurological disorders and psychiatric or relationship issues must be identified and managed appropriately.

ED is also clinically important because it is often an early marker of vascular disease. Early evaluation should not be delayed.

5) Mental Health in Men

Mental health is an essential component of overall wellbeing. Although depression is more prevalent in women, suicide rates and severe outcomes including aggression and substance abuse are higher in men.

Between 2014 and 2019, suicide rates increased significantly among Malaysian males. Men may also be less likely to seek help despite having equivalent or higher levels of psychological distress. Cultural expectations, stigma, minimization of emotional symptoms, and masculine norms may delay early intervention. Support, screening for depression when clinically appropriate, and accessible referral pathways are crucial for reducing preventable harm.

6) HPV Vaccination in Men

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is common and spreads through sexual contact including vaginal, anal and oral sex. While HPV has long been discussed primarily as a cause of cervical cancer in women, it is also associated with disease in men, including genital warts, penile cancer, anal cancer and oropharyngeal cancer.

There is increasing support globally and locally for including boys in HPV vaccination schedules to protect males directly and enhance herd immunity. HPV vaccination can be taken up to age 45. It prevents new HPV infections but does not treat existing ones. It works best when given before exposure.

7) Health Seeking Behaviour in Men

Despite having higher risk profiles, men generally underutilize preventive health services. The National Health Morbidity Survey 2011 reported that only 34.9% of men aged 18 and above underwent health checks within the past year, compared to 40.7% among women.

Factors that influence poor screening behaviour in men include low risk perception, fear of discovering disease, complicated screening pathways, lack of recommendation from healthcare providers, and misconceptions about men’s health. Improving awareness, simplifying access, and normalizing routine screening are essential strategies to improve early detection and reduce preventable illness.

Conclusion

Men’s health deserves attention, proactive investment, and open conversation. This International Men’s Day serves as a timely reminder that early prevention and screening saves lives. Lifestyle modification, smoking cessation, safe sexual practices, cancer screening, vaccination and mental health support can dramatically improve long-term health outcomes. Men are encouraged to take an active role in their health, and families, healthcare providers, employers and communities all play an important role in creating a supportive environment.

Early action today translates to healthier, longer and better-quality lives for men tomorrow.

References:

Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) 2025
Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2023
National Anti-Drugs Agency (NADA) 2023
National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2023
National Cancer Registry 2017-2021
American Cancer Society 2023
National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2019
Looking Into Recent Suicide Rates and Trends in Malaysia: A Comparative Analysis, 2022
HPV Vaccination Recommendations, CDC, 2021
National Men’s Health Plan of Action Malaysia 2018 – 2023