By Dr Kush Shah
Consultant Urologist
Nov 26, 2025
For generations, discussions around gender-based inequalities have rightfully highlighted the oppression and challenges faced by women. But in this narrative, one crucial truth is often overlooked — men, too, have been shaped, confined, and damaged by rigid societal expectations. The idea that “real men must always be tough, emotionless, and invincible” has silently defined the upbringing of boys for centuries, creating an environment that profoundly impacts men’s overall health.
From childhood, boys often hear phrases like “Man up!”, “Real men don’t cry”, “Don’t be sensitive”, or “Boys don’t play with dolls.” These statements may sound harmless or playful, but they form the foundation of a culture where men are discouraged from expressing vulnerability, discussing fears, acknowledging pain, or seeking help — whether physical or emotional.
This cultural conditioning has led to delayed diagnoses, poor health-seeking behaviour, underreporting of symptoms, and a silent mental health crisis among men worldwide.
It is against this backdrop that the Movember Movement — now a global phenomenon — emerged, urging men to speak up, show up, and take charge of their health.
The birth of the movember movement
Movember is observed every November with a simple idea: grow a moustache to spark conversations about men’s health. It all started in 2003 in Melbourne, Australia, when friends Travis Garone and Luke Slattery sparked a fun idea — bringing the moustache trend back to life. What was a playful idea quickly transformed into a powerful global campaign when they chose to use it to raise funds for prostate cancer research.
Thirty men joined the first group, and the funds raised were donated to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. This marked the beginning of a movement that would spread across continents, partnering with major global health organisations and supporting more than 1,200 research and support projects to date.
Today, Movember addresses three critical areas.
The moustache has become more than just facial hair — it is a symbol of awareness, strength, and the courage to speak openly about issues that men often keep hidden.
Why indian men need the movember message more than ever
India is a country where cultural norms, family structures, and social roles carry strong expectations for men. Men are expected to be protectors, providers, and problem-solvers — roles that often push them to ignore their own health.
Many Indian men delay or completely avoid medical consultations, assuming that prioritising their own health is selfish or unnecessary.
Some of the major reasons include
1. Lack of awareness
Many men are unaware of the early symptoms, risk factors, or preventive measures for diseases that predominantly affect them.
2. Social conditioning
Men are raised to be resilient and stoic. Admitting pain or going for a routine check-up is often viewed as a sign of weakness by oneself or others.
3. Responsibility pressure
Men may place financial responsibilities and family obligations above their personal health, often postponing essential medical care.
4. Fear of diagnosis
Some men fear the possibility of discovering a serious illness and therefore avoid check-ups altogether.
5. Limited discussions on men’s health
While maternal and women’s health receive significant attention — which they rightly deserve — men’s health issues remain under-discussed.
The consequences of such attitudes are severe. According to the National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR), non-communicable diseases (NCDs) — such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases — are more prevalent in men in India.
The prevalence of NCDs is 119 per 1,000 men compared to 113 per 1,000 women.
Let’s explore some of the health issues disproportionately affecting Indian men.
1. Cardiovascular diseases: A silent epidemic
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death among Indian men. Lifestyle changes, urban stress, smoking, irregular eating habits, and sedentary behaviour have made Indian men increasingly vulnerable to heart-related issues.
Shocking statistics reveal
Despite these alarming facts, many men ignore symptoms like fatigue, breathlessness, chest discomfort, or persistent acidity — often dismissing them as minor issues.
2. Mental health challenges: The hidden crisis
Mental health remains one of the most neglected aspects of men’s well-being. Social stigma and masculine stereotypes discourage men from acknowledging emotional distress.
A survey reveals
It indicates that men suffer in silence. Depression, anxiety, stress, substance abuse, and burnout are often unrecognised and untreated — until it is too late.
3. Prostate cancer: The growing threat
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men globally and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths.
In India
Late detection is the biggest challenge. Many men do not undergo routine prostate health screenings, such as PSA (Prostate-specific antigen) tests, even when they experience warning signs like urinary difficulties or lower back pain.
Early detection dramatically improves survival rates — but only if men take the initiative.
4. Testicular cancer: A curable yet underdiagnosed condition
Testicular cancer is one of the most treatable cancers when detected early. Unfortunately, Indian men rarely perform self-examinations or report symptoms such as lumps or discomfort in the testicles.
Greater awareness, especially among young men, is necessary for timely diagnosis and treatment.
5. Lifestyle disorders: A growing concern
Diabetes, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, obesity, fatty liver, smoking-related diseases, and alcohol-induced complications are increasingly common among men.
Work stress, lack of physical activity, excessive gadget use, irregular meals, and poor sleep cycle all contribute to early-onset lifestyle disorders.
Movember: More than a movement — A reminder
Movember encourages men to
Leading hospital in Ahmedabad for urology care.
The movember movement reminds us that conversations around men’s health should never be taboo.
Men need to acknowledge their struggles, prioritise their well-being, and seek timely medical care. Equally, society must support them, listen to them, and create safe spaces where they feel comfortable sharing their challenges.
A healthier man builds a healthier home, workplace, and community.
At KD Hospital, our experienced urologists, cardiologist and other comprehensive men’s health services are dedicated to guiding men toward better physical and emotional well-being.
This movember, let us encourage every man to take a step toward a healthier future — because men’s health is not just a personal issue, but a collective responsibility.
