Why do men die earlier?

The male life expectancy gap (5-7 years in most HICs) is driven by multiple overlapping factors: Behavioural: men smoke more, drink more alcohol, take more risks, seek healthcare less and delay treatment longer. Cardiovascular: myocardial infarction occurs 10-15 years earlier in men (oestrogen provides partial protection in women pre-menopause). Mental health: men have approximately 80% of suicide deaths in HICs — the leading cause of death in men under 50 in many countries. Occupational: men work in more dangerous occupations (construction, mining, fishing, transport). Cancer: men are less likely to attend cancer screening, leading to later-stage diagnoses. Social: men are socialised to suppress emotional distress and self-reliance, creating barriers to healthcare seeking.

Why do men seek less healthcare?

The gender norms of many societies construct masculinity around self-reliance, stoicism and invulnerability — attitudes that create significant barriers to healthcare seeking: reluctance to appear vulnerable or weak; dismissing symptoms as unimportant; not wanting to "bother" a doctor; fear of bad news; practical barriers (work hours, clinic accessibility); lower rates of primary care registration in some countries. Men attend GPs approximately 25-40% less often than women and are significantly less likely to respond to cancer screening invitations. This is not biologically determined — it is socially constructed and can be changed.

What is the male suicide epidemic?

In virtually every high-income country, men account for approximately 75-80% of all suicide deaths — creating a stark "gender paradox" (women have higher rates of suicidal ideation and attempts, but men have much higher completion rates). This reflects: men choosing more lethal methods; lower rates of help-seeking before crisis; lower rates of mental health treatment engagement; the masked depression syndrome (anger, alcohol, risk-taking instead of acknowledged sadness). Suicide is the leading cause of death in men under 50 in the UK, US, Canada and Australia. Zero Suicide initiatives, mental health first aid training, and reducing access to lethal means have evidence of effectiveness.

What are the key men's health screening priorities?

Evidence-based screening for men: Blood pressure: all men ≥18 years regularly. Cholesterol/lipids: from age 35 (or earlier with risk factors). Blood glucose/HbA1c: from age 45 (or earlier with obesity/family history). Colorectal cancer: FIT annually or colonoscopy every 10 years from age 45-50 (USPSTF). Lung cancer: low-dose CT in heavy smokers 50-80 years. Prostate cancer: individualised discussion on PSA from age 50 (45 for high-risk groups). Testicular: know your own anatomy — report any testicular lump promptly to a doctor. Sexually transmitted infections: annual STI screen for sexually active men with multiple partners. Mental health: regular enquiry about mood, sleep, alcohol — specifically recognising male depression presentations.

What did WHO's 2024 Men's Health Report say?

The WHO Men's Health Report 2024 — the first global WHO report specifically addressing men's health — called for: recognition of the male health disadvantage as a public health priority; national men's health strategies integrated into UHC frameworks; gender-responsive health services designed to engage men (flexible hours, community settings, non-stigmatising environments); targeted interventions for suicide prevention, mental health, cardiovascular disease and cancer screening in men; training of healthcare workers in gender-sensitive care; and research into the determinants of male health disadvantage. The report emphasised that the life expectancy gap is largely modifiable — not biologically inevitable.

How does GMJ News cover men's health?

GMJ News covers WHO 2024 Men's Health Report, the life expectancy gap, male suicide epidemic, healthcare-seeking barriers, cardiovascular risk (MI 10-15 years earlier), male-typical depression presentation, cancer screening priorities, testosterone and late-onset hypogonadism, occupational health, and gender-responsive services. Men's health is directly relevant to PHIG's health equity agenda and Georgia's male life expectancy challenges.

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Men's Health

GMJ News knowledge hub · last reviewed September 2026 · Georgian Medical Journal

Summary Statistics Glossary GMJ news FAQ Documents Organizations Research

Men die 5-7 years earlier than women on average in high-income countries — a health gap driven by higher rates of cardiovascular disease (MI occurring 10-15 years earlier in men), suicide (men account for approximately 80% of suicide deaths in HICs), occupational injury, road traffic fatalities, tobacco use and alcohol-related disease, combined with significantly lower healthcare-seeking behaviour — which together constitute one of the most underacknowledged public health inequalities in medicine (WHO Men’s Health Report 2024). The WHO published its first global report dedicated to men’s health in 2024 — calling for gender-responsive health services that actively reduce barriers to male healthcare engagement, as men are significantly less likely than women to attend primary care, undergo cancer screening or seek mental health support.

Key messages

Men die 5-7 years earlier — the underacknowledged health gap

Men die an average of 5-7 years earlier than women in most high-income countries. This life expectancy gap is driven by higher rates of cardiovascular disease, suicide, occupational injury, tobacco use, alcohol-related disease and cancer — combined with significantly lower rates of healthcare seeking (WHO Men's Health Report 2024).

Suicide — leading cause of death in men under 50

Men account for approximately 75-80% of suicide deaths in high-income countries — the leading cause of death in men under 50 in many HICs. Male suicide is often linked to socially conditioned resistance to expressing distress, seeking mental health support or accessing crisis services.

Men less likely to seek healthcare — the access gap

Men attend primary care appointments significantly less frequently than women; men are less likely to report symptoms, less likely to accept cancer screening invitations, and more likely to delay seeking care until disease is advanced. Gender-responsive health services specifically designed to engage men are an evidence-based solution.

WHO Men's Health Report 2024 — first global report

WHO published its first global report dedicated specifically to men's health in 2024 — calling for gender-responsive health services, men's health clinics, and targeted interventions to address the modifiable male health disadvantage. Men's health is now a WHO priority equity agenda.

MI 10-15 years earlier — cardiovascular gap

Myocardial infarction occurs approximately 10-15 years earlier in men than women on average — explaining a major component of the life expectancy gap. Oestrogen provides relative cardiovascular protection pre-menopause; men lack this biological protection.

Occupational health — men's specific risk

Men account for the vast majority of occupational injury deaths globally — in construction, mining, agriculture, manufacturing and transportation. Occupational cancer (asbestos, silica, benzene exposures) also disproportionately affects men in historically male-dominated industries.

Key statistics

5-7yr

men's life expectancy gap vs women in most HICs (WHO 2024)

WHO 2024

~80%

of suicide deaths in HICs are male (CDC/WHO)

WHO/CDC

cause of death in men under 50 in many HICs: suicide

WHO 2024

10-15yr

MI occurs earlier in men than women on average

WHO/ESC

2024

year WHO published first global men's health report

WHO 2024

Lower

men's primary care attendance, cancer screening, mental health access globally

WHO 2024

Leading causes of premature male mortality — WHO global data (age-standardised)

Source: WHO. Cardiovascular disease dominates male mortality; suicide disproportionate vs women.

Glossary of key terms

Male life expectancy gap
WHO 2024The difference in average life expectancy at birth between men and women — approximately 5-7 years in most HICs, and larger (10+ years) in some LMIC settings (e.g. Russia). The gap is driven by: behavioural factors (smoking, alcohol, risk-taking, lower healthcare seeking — modifiable); biological factors (sex hormone differences, X-chromosome immune gene dosage); occupational factors (higher-risk industries); social determinants. The gap has been narrowing in some countries as men's health interventions improve.

Gender-responsive health services
WHO 2024Health services specifically designed to address the barriers men face in accessing care: men's health clinics (often based in barber shops, sports clubs, workplaces — meeting men where they are); open extended evening hours; brief unsolicited health checks; male-specific cancer screening campaigns (prostate, testicular, skin); integration of mental health screening into routine appointments; training clinicians to recognise masked male depression (anger, substance use, risk-taking as depressive equivalents).

Male depression — the masked presentation
WHO/APAClinical depression in men is frequently underdiagnosed because men typically present with "masked" or externalised depression rather than classic sad mood and crying: increased anger or irritability; increased alcohol or substance use; risk-taking behaviour; physical complaints (fatigue, sleep problems, chronic pain); social withdrawal from family; overworking. Clinicians trained to recognise these male-typical presentations identify depression in men at higher rates.

Testosterone decline with age
WHO/EndocrinologyTestosterone declines approximately 1-2% per year after age 35 in men. Late-onset hypogonadism (LOH): symptoms include reduced libido, ED, fatigue, mood changes, reduced muscle mass, increased adiposity, reduced bone density. Diagnosis requires: symptoms + consistently low morning total testosterone (<10-12 nmol/L). Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) improves symptoms in genuinely hypogonadal men — but avoid in men with prostate cancer or elevated PSA without urology clearance, or those desiring fertility.

Men's cancer screening
WHO/USPSTFKey cancer screening for men: Colorectal: colonoscopy or faecal immunochemical test (FIT) — recommended all adults 45-75 years (USPSTF); men are significantly less likely to complete screening despite equal or higher risk. Lung: low-dose CT for heavy smokers aged 50-80 years (USPSTF) — reduces lung cancer mortality by approximately 20%. Prostate: PSA testing — individualised decision (USPSTF Grade C — potential harm from overdiagnosis balanced against benefit); discuss with all men 50-74 years (45-69 in African Caribbean men or family history). Testicular: no recommended screening; all men should know to report a testicular lump promptly.

WHO Men's Health Report 2024
WHO 2024WHO's first global report specifically addressing men's health — published 2024. Key findings: the male health disadvantage is real, large and modifiable; it is driven more by social and behavioural factors than biological inevitability; gender-responsive health services (designed for men) are effective; investments in men's health benefit families and communities; recommendations include national men's health strategies, integration of men's health into UHC frameworks.