You may have noticed more and more men growing moustaches this month, and if you weren’t aware, it’s all to do with Movember. This annual event is about raising awareness of men’s health issues. In light of the charity event, we thought we’d shine a light on some of the key men’s health services we offer at Bluff Road Medical Centre.
Risk behaviour and mental health issues in teens
Stress can be a common concern for young men, particularly those completing their final years of schooling. It’s important to remember there is support available.
At Bluff Road Medical Centre, we have a team of psychologists ready to offer counselling to young men experiencing risk behaviour and mental health concerns.
Patients may be eligible for a Mental Health Care Plan, which entitles them to Medicare rebates for up to 10 individual and 10 group appointments with some allied mental health services in a calendar year. For more information, please get in touch.
Sexual health and vasectomy advice
Are you due for a sexual health screening? If you can’t remember the last time you were tested or you’ve recently ended a relationship, it’s a good idea to book in.
There are simple blood and urine tests available to check your sexual health. When you consider that some sexually transmitted diseases may show no symptoms (Chlamydia, for example), it’s important to be vigilant about your sexual health.
If you have no plans for having more children, your doctor can also discuss vasectomy with you. While we do not perform vasectomies at the clinic, we can provide a referral to a specialist who can perform the procedure, which involves cutting the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles.
Prostate screening
Did you know roughly 17,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer annually in Australia? If you have a close relative with prostate cancer your chances of being diagnosed with it are higher, particularly if the relative was diagnosed before the age of 60.
Symptoms include:
- Trouble passing urine
- A slow, interrupted flow of urine
- Frequent urination, including at night
- Incontinence.
We recommend yearly testing after the age of 50. Your doctor can check your prostate health with either a PSA blood test (which measures the level of PSA in your blood) or a physical examination. If either test returns an abnormal result, your GP will inform you about next possible steps, including biopsy.
Like to make a booking?
It can be challenging to get some men to be proactive about their health and to discuss the health issues affecting them. If you know someone who is overdue for a check-up, please encourage them to reach out. Our doctors are here to help. Click here or phone (03) 9598 6244.
Further resources: