Men's Health: Andrology Expert Cao Kaiyong Discusses New Concepts in Men's Health
Men's Health: Andrology Expert
Cao Kaiyong discusses new concepts in men's health
Hou Daize
As "Men's Health Day" approaches on October 28, a reporter interviewed Professor Cao Kaiyong, Chairman of the International Society of Traditional Chinese Medicine Andrology, President of the Andrology Professional Committee of the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies, and President of Tianjin Cao Kaiyong Traditional Chinese Medicine Andrology Hospital.
Speaking about the current health status of men in my country, Professor Cao said with concern: "Men's health status is not to be ignored and is worrying. However, this problem has not attracted the attention of society, families, and relatives. The most serious issue is the neglect, indifference, and even forgetfulness of men's own health problems. Men are unwilling to see a doctor when they are sick, and they are unwilling to talk about their pain. The number of men suffering from various diseases is many times greater than that of women, but men see a doctor 28% less frequently than women. There are more than 100 million people suffering from erectile dysfunction alone in China, but only 25% of them seek treatment, while 75% do not seek medical attention and would rather endure the pain."
Of the more than 300 million adult men in China, 100 million suffer from sexual dysfunction. Statistics from the International Society of Traditional Chinese Medicine Andrology show that at least 50 million men of reproductive age in my country suffer from infertility, while approximately 150 million men suffer from prostate diseases. The combined number of patients with these three major andrological diseases is very close to the total number of adult men in China. Clinical surveys show that sperm production in adult men is currently half that of 50 years ago; 40% of men over 50 years old suffer from varying degrees of prostate disease; nearly 25% of adult men have varying degrees of sexual dysfunction; 10% of couples of reproductive age suffer from infertility; and 6.5% of adult men suffer from sexually transmitted diseases.
With societal progress and development, the spectrum of human diseases has undergone significant changes, shifting from being primarily caused by infectious diseases and malnutrition to encompassing a wide range of factors including biological agents, social factors, and psychological factors. Due to this shift, the incidence of male diseases such as erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and infertility has shown a year-on-year upward trend. Half of every 100 men suffer from various male-specific diseases. As many medical experts have predicted, in the 21st century, urological diseases will become the third leading cause of death worldwide, after cardiovascular disease and cancer.
However, even today, with science becoming increasingly widespread and knowledge becoming ever more advanced, many people still believe advertisements on telephone poles, seek treatment from quack doctors and swindlers, or secretly buy so-called aphrodisiacs and kidney tonics, resulting in harm to their own health, their own suffering, and the mistreatment of their partners. Many men do not die from disease, but from outdated ideas and ignorant sexual folly.
Because men's health has long been neglected, and outdated traditional concepts have been perpetuated, men are now facing health risks and suffering. Therefore, men, and society as a whole, must establish correct new concepts about men's health to overcome the current health crisis. To this end, Professor Cao proposes his own new concept of men's health.
New Concept 1: Choose strength, acknowledge vulnerability
Men need to acknowledge that they are physiologically weaker. This is an objective reality, not a source of shame for men, so they should not fall into the misconception of believing themselves to be "stronger."
Traditionally, women are often referred to as "weaker," perceived as having lower physical strength and being at a disadvantage in social competition. However, scientific research indicates that men are physiologically "weaker." Human immune genes reside on the X chromosome; women have two X chromosomes, while men have only one. Due to the weaker genetic makeup in men, if a gene malfunctions, there is no backup gene. Therefore, from the embryonic stage, men are more vulnerable than women, with higher stillbirth rates, lower survival rates, and a higher incidence of various genetic diseases. Furthermore, some complications from diseases are more severe in men than in women; for example, mumps can adversely affect the male reproductive system but not in women.
New Concept 2: Being reluctant to seek medical help doesn't make a real man; men should care about their health.
For diseases specific to men, one should openly and honestly go to the hospital for examination and treatment.
Sexual dysfunction, infertility, and prostate diseases-specifically affecting men's health-are on the rise year by year, increasing at an average rate of 3 percentage points annually. The phenomenon of "female dominance and male decline" is not only a description of social psychology but also a true reflection of men's health status. Faced with the deteriorating health of men, what is puzzling is their long-term indifference towards their own health. Men are reluctant to seek medical attention when ill; statistics show that men visit doctors 28% less frequently than women. Men only go to the hospital when absolutely necessary or when their condition is serious. For minor ailments, they tend to endure them. More often than not, men hastily buy some medicine and try to manage on their own. 80% of patients with serious illnesses admit that because of their long-term neglect of medical care, minor ailments have developed into major problems, delaying the best treatment opportunity.
Men's disregard for health stems from the instilling of traditional patriarchal values. From a young age, men are told that men must be strong and resilient, that they must get up on their own after a fall, that they must not cry when getting injections, that they must not complain when sick, or that they must not whine when tired. Only in this way can men prove they are stronger than women; otherwise, they are considered effeminate and spineless. Women can openly seek medical attention for gynecological problems such as dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, or uterine fibroids; but men with erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, or prostate problems dare not speak out, and even when they do seek medical attention or take medication, they must do so secretly.
We should view men's health issues scientifically and realistically. Caring about health is not a sign of weakness; illness is the body's natural regulation, a distress signal. Men seeking medical attention is respecting science and respecting themselves. Men have the right to seek medical care; men who seek medical care are not necessarily less capable, and men who don't are not necessarily noble. Only by cherishing their own bodies can men contribute to the world. Only with healthy lives can men shoulder greater responsibilities.
New Concept 3: Men also need care and protection.
Society as a whole should care for men. Men and women should have equal social roles and rights. For a healthy life, men and women should equally share the care of the family and the love of society.
In the ancient Chinese dictionary *Shuowen Jiezi*, the character for "man" (男) is composed of "field" (田) and "strength" (力), signifying labor in the fields. In slave and feudal societies based on an agricultural economy, men were the main force in agricultural production. This tradition continues to this day; men remain the main pillar of social productivity, the backbone of society and the protectors of the nation, the core of the family, and the primary support for women. For these reasons, men should rightfully receive societal care. However, the reality for men in real life is worrying. While their relatives and friends offer encouragement, they lack genuine care; society places excessive expectations on men and provides insufficient protection; men work tirelessly, but not to their full potential.
According to a World Health Organization report, in the 21st century, after cardiovascular disease and cancer, the third leading cause of death is urological diseases. Urological diseases are increasing at a rate of 3% annually, a very serious situation.
The pain and harm that urological diseases bring to patients and their families are profound, and the resulting negative social impact is enormous. According to a survey by the Women's Federation of a certain city, approximately 50% of divorce cases in that city are due to male reproductive and sexual dysfunction, leading to family discord and marital breakdown. Urological diseases have become one of the "public nuisances" of today's society, urgently requiring the attention of the entire society.
With the continuous progress of the times, men's health should be a social issue that receives attention from the whole society. Currently, there is a severe shortage of medical institutions specializing in men's diseases in my country, resulting in a large number of patients not receiving proper treatment. Many lack basic health awareness and instead believe in quack doctors and are misled by unlicensed advertisements, leading to numerous cases of missed or misdiagnosed male patients, especially in the treatment of sexual dysfunction and sexually transmitted diseases. Unhealthy lifestyle and dietary habits, such as staying up late, smoking, drinking alcohol, and consuming spicy and salty foods, are increasingly threatening men's health. The trend of male diseases affecting younger people is intensifying. Diagnosis and treatment should break down the boundaries between traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine. Men's Health Day should truly become a "Men's Day" in China and even the world.
New Concept 4: Men can cry, it's not a sin.
Men should not suppress their inner pain excessively. Under immense life pressure, men should vent and release their emotions freely when necessary. This is not weakness or incompetence, but rather a way to maintain psychological balance and health.
Besides their physical weaknesses, men often bear an excessive psychological burden, face numerous obstacles, and are quite vulnerable. This is related to their masculine character and social role. In reality, the societal positioning of men as "naturally strong" places them under greater pressure: a fast-paced lifestyle, intensified economic competition, the burden of supporting their families, the task of raising children, the pursuit of reputation, and so on. All of these factors place men in a state of tension and intense psychological conflict, which is extremely detrimental to their mental health.
Men are often characterized by a fierce, impulsive, and competitive nature, a relentless drive to prove themselves, and an unwillingness to admit defeat. This personality trait is a double-edged sword. Two lines of ancient poetry aptly describe it: "The strongest bowstring always breaks first, and the sharpest blade is easily wounded." This means that the stronger and more resilient a person is, the more vulnerable they are to harm. These lines perfectly depict the male character. This personality often leads men to experience hardships and tribulations in life, enduring various forms of emotional pain and struggling to achieve psychological balance.
Men, however, have never had the right to heal psychological trauma through crying. From a young age, elders and teachers tell boys: a man who cries is weak; a man must endure his pain. Enduring is like a knife in the heart. A man must swallow his tears and never let anyone see them.
Influenced by these traditional beliefs, men tend to be more subdued and anxious when facing stress and pressure. Men are accustomed to suppressing their emotions, rarely shedding tears or expressing their grievances; their mental state is often one of depression and resentment, a pathological condition that severely damages their mental health. One test showed that men's blood pressure rises more significantly than women's under stress. There are more men than women suffering from hysteria, and more male patients than female patients in mental hospitals. The suicide rate for men is more than four times that of women.
Our new concept of men's health aims to guide men to not suppress their inner pain excessively. It encourages them to speak out when they feel resentful. Crying does not signify weakness; when tears wash away our pain, we truly become strong. Tears are not a sign of incompetence; they simply indicate that men are also mentally healthy, flesh-and-blood human beings. Burying pain deep inside leads to even heavier harm, which can be transferred to others and society, even resulting in serious consequences such as revenge against society and others.
Excerpted from "Famous Brand Times - Beijing Medical Weekly"