Where the boys are not: a brief overview of male preventive health

Abstract

Excess morbidity and premature mortality in US males is caused, in part, by lack of male participation in preventive health behaviors. Unlike women, who routinely access the health care system for periodic reproductive exams, men between the ages of 15 and 50 rarely seek preventive care services. A chart survey of a sample of female reproductive exams was undertaken to investigate the types of health care services these exams provide. Results indicated that a periodic female reproductive exam often encompasses many elements of a comprehensive history and physical exam, thus serving as an ideal preventive health vehicle, and is reimbursed as such by non-Medicare payers using preventive health codes. In most cases, reproductive issues were a minor portion of the female reproductive exam. It is speculated that males would also benefit from similar periodic, gender-appropriate preventive health exams. Like periodic reproductive exams for women, these "well male exams" would serve as abbreviated comprehensive history and physical exams, and would be reimbursed using the same preventive health codes. A list of age-appropriate preventive health interventions for men is suggested.