College-age men often feel pressure to act strong and independent and that attitude is detrimental when it comes to taking advantage of health care services, physicians at Wardenburg Health Center say.
That is why the Men's Health Services program at the CU-Boulder health center is aimed at encouraging male students to use services that they typically tend to avoid, including preventative care and a general assessment of risk factors.
Young men are at greater risk for certain health problems such as testicular cancer, said Dr. James Schlegel.
"I remain very surprised that students can go through four years of high school and four years of college and yet I see people who have not performed the self-exam," Schlegel said.
Young men also are at greater risk for sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV and hepatitis B, he said.
Men's Health Services at Wardenburg includes information on sexually transmitted diseases and self-examinations for testicular cancer, routine annual check-ups and low-cost screenings for prostate cancer, among other services targeted to men.
"Men, as a whole, have traditionally not been good users of preventive health care," said Dr. Thomas Kunstman, one of the organizers of MenÂ’s Health Services. "We aim to change that. We encourage men to bring all their specific health issues to the clinic."
Some of men's risk factors for ill health include alcohol and substance abuse, risk-taking behavior, smoking, family health history, sexual activity, lack of exercise and troubled interpersonal relationships.
"There's definitely a large lack of knowledge out there," said Schlegel. Risk assessments are most helpful at an early age, and often consist mainly of talking with a physician.
"It is amazing when people come in for one reason and then take the opportunity to discuss all kinds of questions and concerns," Schlegel said.
The idea behind Men's Health Services is to provide a comfortable setting for men to receive better all-around health care and to provide education on men's health issues that are often neglected, including psychological health, Schlegel said.
ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½, staff and faculty may call 303-492-5432 for an appointment, or call 303-492-0675 for more information.