Men's Health Month: What Dads and Teen Boys Should Know

Pediatric Providers Team
6 days ago
6 min read

June is Men's Health Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the health conditions that affect men and boys. The goal is to encourage early education, prevention, and action. As a pediatric practice, we care for boys from birth through young adulthood, and we believe that the habits and awareness built in childhood and adolescence shape a man's health for decades to come.

Why Men's Health Awareness Starts Young

In the US, men’s life expectancy is about five years shorter than women, and they are significantly less likely to visit a doctor, seek mental health care, or report symptoms early. These are not biological inevitabilities. They are largely the result of habits and attitudes that begin in adolescence.

Boys who grow up in households where health is talked about openly, where checkups are routine, and where asking for help is normalized are far more likely to carry those behaviors into adulthood. The pediatric well visit is one of our best opportunities to plant those seeds.

Testicular Health: Starting the Conversation Early

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in males between the ages of 15 and 35, and it is highly treatable when caught early — survival rates exceed 95 percent with early detection. Yet many young men have never been taught how to perform a self-exam or what to look for.

At Pediatric Providers, we begin age-appropriate conversations about testicular health during adolescent well visits. Here is what teens and parents should know:

Monthly self-exams are recommended: Beginning around age 15, males should learn to perform a monthly testicular self-examination. The best time is after a warm shower, when the scrotal skin is relaxed.
What to feel for: Each testicle should feel smooth and firm, roughly oval-shaped. One testicle is often slightly larger or hangs lower than the other — this is normal. What is not normal is a hard lump, a change in size or shape, a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum, or a dull ache in the lower abdomen or groin.
When to call us: Any new lump, persistent pain, or noticeable change should be evaluated promptly. Most lumps are not cancer — they may be a cyst, varicocele, or epididymitis — but all warrant a clinical exam.

Parents and Guardians who are comfortable discussing this topic with their sons make an enormous difference. A brief, matter-of-fact conversation carries far more weight than a brochure.

Cardiovascular Health: Habits That Start Now

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in American men, but its roots often begin in childhood and adolescence. High blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, obesity, and physical inactivity in youth are strong predictors of cardiovascular disease in adulthood.

What we screen for and discuss at well visits:

Blood pressure: We check blood pressure at every well visit beginning at age 3. High blood pressure in children is more common than many parents realize and is often related to weight, diet, and inactivity.
Cholesterol: The AAP recommends universal cholesterol screening between ages 9 and 11, and again between 17 and 21. A family history of early heart disease makes early screening even more important.
BMI and weight: We track body mass index at every well visit as one measure of metabolic health. Obesity in adolescent boys is a significant risk factor for type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, and cardiovascular disease.

The lifestyle habits that protect cardiovascular health — regular physical activity, a diet rich in vegetables and whole grains, limited sugar-sweetened beverages, and adequate sleep — are most effectively established before adulthood. Fathers who model these habits have a measurable impact on their sons' long-term health.

Mental Health in Boys and Men

Mental health is one of the most underdiscussed aspects of men's health. Men are less likely to be diagnosed with depression and anxiety, not because they experience it less, but because they are less likely to recognize or report symptoms, and less likely to be asked about them.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death in males between the ages of 10 and 34. Boys are more likely to use lethal means, which contributes to a male suicide death rate four times higher than that of females.

At our practice, we screen for depression and anxiety at adolescent well visits using validated tools. But the most important screening happens at home.

Normalize talking about emotions: Boys benefit from growing up in environments where it is acceptable — expected, even — to talk about how they feel. This does not require lengthy conversations. Small, consistent check-ins build the habit.
Know the signs: In boys, depression and anxiety often show up differently than in girls. Watch for withdrawal from activities they used to enjoy, irritability, changes in sleep or appetite, declining school performance, increased risk-taking, or talk about hopelessness.
Take it seriously: If your son says something alarming, do not minimize it. Ask directly. Research consistently shows that asking about suicidal thoughts does not plant the idea — it opens a door that may have otherwise stayed closed.

If you have concerns about your teen's mental health, please call our office. We can provide a referral to a mental health provider and support your family through the process.

Skin Cancer and Sun Protection

Melanoma rates are higher in men than women, and men are less likely to use sunscreen or seek early evaluation of suspicious skin changes. This begins in adolescence, when sun exposure habits are established.

Use broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher: Apply 15 to 30 minutes before sun exposure and reapply every two hours during outdoor activity, especially while swimming or sweating.
Protect the scalp and lips: These are commonly missed. Use SPF lip balm and a hat for extended outdoor time.
Avoid tanning: There is no such thing as a safe tan from UV radiation. Using tanning beds before age 35 increases melanoma risk by 59 percent.
Know your skin: Teach teens to notice moles or spots that are asymmetrical, have irregular borders, contain multiple colors, are larger than a pencil eraser, or are changing over time. These are the ABCDEs of melanoma.

Type 2 Diabetes: A Growing Concern in Adolescent Males

Type 2 diabetes, once considered an adult disease, is increasingly diagnosed in adolescents, especially boys, particularly those with overweight or obesity, are at significant risk. Left unmanaged, diabetes leads to serious complications including kidney disease, nerve damage, and cardiovascular disease.

Warning signs to be aware of include increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, blurred vision, and slow-healing wounds. We screen at-risk patients at well visits. Lifestyle modification — especially increased physical activity and reduced sugar intake — can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes even in high-risk individuals.

Talking to Your Teen Son About His Health

One of the most effective things a parent can do during adolescence is to keep health conversations ongoing, low-pressure, and judgment-free. Teens who feel comfortable talking to a parent about health are more likely to disclose symptoms early, follow through with care, and develop healthy habits independently.

A few approaches to try:

Bring up health topics in the context of everyday life. This can be during a car ride, after watching a game, or while doing something active together. One-on-one conversations are often easier than face-to-face sit-downs.
Frame health as performance and longevity, not fear. For many teen boys, the idea of being stronger, having more energy, or performing better is more motivating than avoiding disease decades away.
Encourage your son to speak up during his own well visits. By mid-adolescence, our providers will speak with patients privately. Knowing their concerns are confidential helps teens disclose more.
Share your own health journey. Talking about your own checkups, the importance of knowing your numbers, and how you take care of yourself is among the most powerful modeling you can do.

Well Visits for Adolescent Males: What to Expect

Teen boys often have fewer well visits than girls, and many go years without seeing a provider. Annual well visits for adolescent males at Pediatric Providers include:

Blood pressure, height, weight, and BMI measurement
Age-appropriate immunizations (including HPV vaccine, which protects against several cancers and is recommended for boys starting at age 11)
Cholesterol and diabetes screening at recommended intervals
Depression and anxiety screening
Confidential discussion of puberty, sexual health, substance use, and safety
Sports physical clearance if needed