Men's Health Australia - Resources

Mens Shred - men's mental health through surfing

2020-05-15T03:11:51Z

The Idea and Story

Hello, my name is Rory and I’m a fairly regular 36-year-old Australian male.

I’m writing this now, of all the times available, because I believe we are unfortunately headed for a second significant crisis. I believe that the isolation from COVID-19 will only exacerbate an already all too common problem. Instances of mental health issues and drug and alcohol abuse are almost certainly set to increase as a direct result of the extraordinary circumstances we currently enduring; and will likely continue to endure for an undetermined amount of time. This idea has been with me for years, yet the current circumstances have compelled me to get on the front foot.

I’m now over 2 years sober after living with mental health, and drug and alcohol abuse issues for many years. In that time I have managed to start my own business, meet a very special partner, and fully regain my mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health.

One of the more consistent external contributors to my recovery has been the ocean. Through the activity of surfing, I have regained a new appreciation for the small things in life. An early rise, sunsets, water, friendships; and connection to the environment, people and most importantly myself, have been essential to my recovery and relapse prevention.

I believe that surfing, connection to the ocean, and shared interest or love of something, can have markedly beneficial outcomes for those experiencing similar struggles to those I have endured.

I plan to begin a not-for-profit organisation, structured to engage groups of men suffering from mental health ailments and drug and alcohol abuse issues, to participate in surfing as a therapeutic activity that contributes positively to their recovery. This organisation will be called Mens Shred.

I’m hoping to engage volunteers and board riders clubs all across Australia to help me establish “chapters” of the Mens Shred program. The volunteers themselves would be keen surfers with charitable hearts. It would be my ideal view that the volunteers were of specific professional and medical backgrounds, as well as anyone else who wants to help.

From these chapters of Mens Shred across the country, I would like to achieve opportunities for the men in the way of vocational/education outcomes, friendships and social connections, medical or psychological help, and referrals for ongoing treatment and support.

There are many key figures in the industry I would like to initially approach. I am seeking opportunities to raise revenue and explore sponsorship opportunities to achieve my goals concerning Mens Shred. Ultimately I would also like to secure marketing and endorsements from professionals and athletes connected to surfing.

The money raised would allow me to begin to engage with members of government, organisations and businesses across Australia; to pitch my ideas, my hopes, and my dreams for Mens Shred. Finances would initially go toward a website build and development of an app for mobile devices, to help organisation’s and potential participants in Mens Shred be informed and connected to the core messages of Mens Shred Australia. Social media management, as well as engaging solicitors and accountants to help me manage the organisation safely and ethically, would also be a primary objective.

Finally, I would like to establish an advisory board to steer me through challenges, and harness my raw enthusiasm for the project into positive outcomes at an individual and community level.

Thank you for taking the time to read through my story and idea.

Love, RorZ.

www.mensshred.org

Men’s Work and Men’s Health Links (Cecil's Hub)

2019-05-12T23:12:19Z

Cecil's Hub (Committed to Educate the Community to Improve Lives) is a great website full of information and links about men's health, men's work, men's groups and men's gatherings, including a directory for those looking for something in their local area and a calendar full of current events.

Preventing Male Suicide - Become Part of the Solution

2015-08-16T03:44:01Z

Suicide is the number one killer of men under 44 years of age.

It is not just an issue for health and mental health services, but one that must be owned by our community.
We need to do more than merely talk about it. Each of us can play an important role in suicide prevention.

This booklet has been compiled to provide easy to read accurate information for communities, employers, and the broad range of organisations and professionals concerned about male suicide.

Why not plan to put one of these into the hands of every person in your community or organisation?

Booklet contains:

Warning signs that a man might be in distress
Helping someone who is experiencing suicidal thoughts: things to bear in mind
Practical tips on how to help
Facts about suicide
Factors associated with suicide
What men experiencing suicidal thoughts need to hear
What can I do at a community level?

Booklets can be purchased at a cost of 90c each plus GST and postage.

For bulk and smaller quantities of the booklet contact:
Phone 0439 692 975 Email

Organisations who purchase 2,000 or more copies, can apply to have their logo placed on the front cover of the booklet.

A sample copy be downloaded from www.aimhs.com.au.

Men, Unemployment and Suicide 2015

2015-02-06T06:13:01Z

The Australian Institute of Male Health and Studies together with the Men's Health Information and Resource Centre at the University of Western Sydney have put together a fact sheet titled Men, Unemployment and Suicide 2015. It contains key points as guidelines for appropriate research and program design pertaining to suicide prevention for men.

Recent international research provides a serious challenge to the general approach to suicide research and prevention, particularly as it applies to men. Current policy and practice are not only unhelpful to many men, but may actually compound the difficulties that men face. Unemployment is a recognised factor in a large percentage of all suicides.

New Centre Puts Focus On Men's Health

2014-11-20T22:30:12Z

The first Australian health care service focussed specifically on the health of men was officially opened in North Melbourne today.

The Australian Centre for Prostate Cancer and Men's Health will cater to male patients experiencing conditions such as prostate cancer, infertility, sexual dysfunction, depression and addiction.

The Minister for Health, Peter Dutton, said the centre was a positive step forward for Australian men, whose health outcomes lagged significantly behind those of Australian women.

“Australian men have a lower life expectancy than women and have different health conditions and risk factors throughout their lives,” Mr Dutton said.

“It is totally appropriate on the one hand to have health centres focussing on women’s health and diseases, like breast cancer, and on the other hand to have a centre like this focussing on men and their particular problems.”

Mr Dutton said the new centre’s emphasis on prostate cancer was particularly welcome given the high incidence of prostate cancer in Australia. In 2010, 19,821 new cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed, representing 30 per cent of all new cases of cancer in Australian males.

“Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, apart from common non-melanoma skin cancers, and has a big impact on our community,” Mr Dutton said.

“The Government recognises this and we are committed to tackling this deadly disease.

“The Australian Centre for Prostate Cancer and Men's Health will create a blueprint of best practice in health provision for men, which could be followed around the nation.

“As a side effect, I hope that this centre prompts more men to think about their health more seriously and seek medical help as soon as they encounter a problem.”

The centre is open to the general public, providing Medicare-eligible comprehensive and integrated health services for males. As well as GPs, it offers specialised services in

urology
radiation oncology
medical oncology
specialist nursing
psychology
physiotherapy and an on-site gymnasium
nutrition.

To support men with prostate cancer, the Australian Government is funding the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia with $6.2 million over four years for 14 prostate cancer nurses around Australia.

The Government also funds prostate cancer research, including $18.5 million over four years for three dedicated Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centres and around $8.8 million for prostate cancer research from 2014 to 2016 through the National Health and Medical Research Council.

For more information, please contact the Minister's Office on 02 6277 7220

PDF printable version of New Centre Puts Focus On Men's Health - PDF 258 KB

Men’s Health Toolkit booklet

2014-09-09T01:34:32Z

Foundation 49 provides a 38 page colour A5 booklet covering a range of men’s health topics in everyday language.

From 1 November 2013 the Men’s Health Toolkit will be available free of charge to individuals and ‘Not For Profit’ organisations (we regret we cannot provide more than 50 copies).

We would appreciate if your organization would consider making a donation to help us publish our excellent magazine and Men’s Health Tool Kit, as F49 is a charity dependent on donations to cover publishing costs.

You can ORDER copies of the Tool Kit for postage in Australia here.

Preventing and Responding to Sexual and Domestic Violence against Men - A Guidance Note for Security Sector Institutions

2014-06-07T01:54:20Z

Large numbers of men are subjected to Sexual and Domestic Violence (SDV). For example, official statistics from Australia estimate that 336,000 men (4 per cent of the male population) have been victims of sexual violence and 448,000 men (5.3 per cent) have been subjected to partner violence since they turned 15 years old. Male victims often share similar security needs with female victims. However, there are also gender-specific barriers to accessing security and justice, and the issue of SDV remains especially shrouded in silence and misconceptions when it comes to male victims. A literature review indicated that while academic research on these topics does exist and several NGOs have recorded relevant good practices, there is currently no single document where this information is synthesised in such a way that it can be readily used by the security sector. This guidance note is therefore designed to serve as a tool to enable security sector institutions to provide a more effective gender-sensitive approach to preventing and responding to SDV against men. It aims to do this by:

giving an overview of the scope and types of SDV against men
outlining key assessment criteria for security sector institutions to measure their current response to SDV against men
providing practical guidance, including good practices, on how security sector institutions can prevent and respond effectively to SDV against men
outlining key assessment criteria for security sector institutions to measure their current response to SDV against me
providing a basis for further research in and documentation of SDV against men.

This guidance note is designed primarily to assist those working at the operational, strategic or management level in police and penal services, but it is also useful for the armed forces. It addresses the issue of preventing and responding to SDV both against their own personnel and against the civilians they are mandated to protect (e.g. general population, prisoners or civilians in the context of a peacekeeping operation). It is also aimed at staff working in bodies that manage and oversee these security sector institutions, such as government ministries, parliaments, ombuds institutions, human rights institutions and civil society, including victims’ associations and the media. In addition, it may be useful to NGOs advocating better services to SDV victims as well as to academics and researchers.

Download the full Guidance Note here (PDF).

“Out on a Limb” book review by Greg Millan

2014-05-01T12:18:37Z

Simon Turner is a single father who has written and published a book called “Out on a Limb - A single fathers guide to his family’s lore of the jungle” for other single fathers on a similar journey to obtain a shared care agreement for their children. This book is simply the best guide to this subject ever written in Australia. I cannot recommend it more highly. Ever separated men with or without children and every worker who works with separated men should buy this book and read every valuable page. Simon’s advice is sound and simple.

The book is a practical easy to read guide based on the three golden rules that Simon received from a Family Court Judge that dramatically changed his situation. Out on a Limb is not legal advice or the gospel but it does make a lot of man-sense and provides the reader with a number of answers to a multitude of questions any single father may have. For when it’s time for a man to take on the task of applying for the care (be it shared or otherwise) what they will discover is all they need is some guidance, a lot of patience and a bit of help to reach an agreement on what’s best for their kids.

Simon wrote this book over 72 consecutive nights about a year or so after his son’s case had been successfully resolved. The book contains 72 easy to read chapters that focus on what a single father can do – to give himself the best chance of parenting after a divorce or separation. Out on a Limb is constructive, easy to read and very affordable and written for every man from the bloke in the pub with his head in his beer to the man behind his desk with his head in his hands.

I get many books sent to my every year to from people writing books with a focus on improving men’s health and wellbeing. Some are good, some not so, but this book I could not put down. It is a fantastic read, and the most simple and informative book I have ever come across on what can be the most difficult of times in men’s lives.

Out on a Limb is a book that is not backward in coming forward, and nor can it afford to be. It is a guide that sheds light on the simple fact that fighting is only going to cause a bigger argument and what a father truly seeks is some certainty through an agreement and a say in what’s best for his kids.

“Some say, in the beginning God (whether you believe in this idea or not) created man and woman. For argument’s sake, let’s call them Tarzan and Jane. But the truth is God can’t be blamed for separation and divorce. That’s the work of Jane and Tarzan. Though marriages are created with the best intentions, breaking up can be ugly, bitter and sometimes spiteful. What-ever we start in life will eventually come to an end, it seems, and by the end of the 20th century too many romances that grew into relationships and blossomed into marriage ended in separation and divorce.”

Out on a Limb doesn’t draw solely on Simon’s experiences, but is reminiscent of observations and lessons he learned during his time in the jungle of family lore. In his career before becoming a full-time dad, Simon had the privilege of knowing some rather distinguished people, including professionals from across society. Simon notes that “Often clients would offer me insights into life, but probably the most considered counsel came from judges. One judge’s advice on learning of my ‘predicament’ radically changed my understanding and, ultimately, my situation. It offered me a way forward and out of the jungle that was encroaching and consuming every part of my life. What he told me is not carved in stone or written in any book, but it was clear, straightforward and to the point ... This advice didn’t require an answer but some thought, and after-wards a fair bit of gratitude. I believe this simple explanation of incredibly complex matters of the heart and family can help any Tarzan work it out with his Jane to find a way out of the jungle.” (Simon Turner, p 8.)

This is a great book, well written and I highly recommend you get a copy. My congratulations to Simon Turner for producing the best guide to separation issues for men ever written (so far).

People can buy the book from www.outonalimb.com.au. The cost is $25.00 includes GST and postage in Australia.

Greg Millan

Men, Unemployment and Suicide: Australia 2014. A Social and Political Issue - NOT a ‘Mental Health’ Diagnosis

2014-04-19T13:11:10Z

By Anthony Smith, Industry Partner to the NHMRC Center for Research Excellence in Suicide Prevention (CRESP).

This Paper is an extension of an earlier Paper from 2012. A summarised version of the 2012 Paper was published in the Report Obsessive Hope Disorder - Reflections on 30 Years of Mental Health Reform in Australia and Visions for the Future.

Recent research policy and practice around men, unemployment and suicide are highlighted to motivate effective action on this issue. There is now very broad acknowledgement of the particular challenge around unemployment and suicide as it relates to men.

Responsive effective and appropriate action, however, is hard to find.

To read the full article in PDF format, click here.

EMALE Issue 133 (April 2014)

2014-04-01T10:35:00Z

In this month's issue:

shaping solutions edition

NSW Men’s Health Conference Update

great new book for separated dads - “Out on a Limb”

cancermate program

men’s health services TRAINING PROGRAMS

news briefs

Heart Attack Risk Rises After Angry Outbursts
Erectile Dysfunction Can Be Reversed Without Medication

future events

shaping solutions
The Australian Association of Buddhist Counsellors and Psychotherapists (AABCAP) 8th Annual Conference.

Insights into men's suicide (UK)

2014-01-23T12:07:51Z

Authors Susan Beaton, Suicide Prevention Consultant and Dr Peter Forster, University of Worcester, UK recently published an article about men's suicide for the Australian Psychology Society. Titled 'Insights into men's suicide' the article covers such ranging issues as reasons for gender disparity, correlates of suicide in men (eg relationship breakdown and alcohol use) and treatment and prevention. The conclusion of the article quotes Dr John Ashfield (Director, AIMHS) to make reference to necessary contributing factors when attempting to understand suicide in men:

"The practice of blaming men for ‘holding in their emotions’ and ‘not seeking help’, and calls for changes to the traditional male role, sounds plausible but is, at best, lazy and simplistic. It is a view that conveniently avoids dealing with the more complex issues of male suicide, and is one that is ignorant of biology, and offensively dismissive of the lived reality of most men’s lives – what society expects of them, and what they must try to be to meet these expectations."

Men's Health Australia applauds the Australian Psychology Society for advocating a social determinants approach to men's suicide. The article can be found here.

Working with men and relationship issues - opportunities and challenges (Video)

2014-01-08T12:18:16Z

One of the highlights of the 2013 National Men's Health Gathering in Brisbane was the Men and Vulnerable Families Forum Plenary Session featuring presentations by Dr Warren Farrell (USA) and Glen Poole (UK). Titled Working with men and relationship issues – opportunities and challenges, this event explored many contemporary issues around men, fathers and relationships, and how to better support them.

The entire event, including an extensive Q & A session, filmed on Friday 25 October 2013 at 9am, is now available on YouTube.

Chaired by Andrew King from Groupwork Solutions, the two keynote speakers were:

Dr Warren Farrell, educator and author
Glen Poole, Director of the UK consultancy Helping Men

Watch the complete event:

Watch excerpts:

Glen Poole:

Dr Warren Farrell:

Q & A:

New online ‘Dads Guide to Pregnancy’ covers what men want to know

2013-11-22T12:15:53Z

Raising Children Network (raisingchildren.net.au) surveyed expectant dads and dads with children from birth to three years of age about the information they want when their partners are pregnant and they’re about to become a dad. They found unique insights that informed a new free online Dads Guide to Pregnancy looking at what dads and their partners might be going through during each stage of pregnancy.

‘I was numbed by the experience... it was all a big shock’ said Scott, father of two. The survey found that a lot of males can share this same feeling. Men find most information is ‘mum-focused’ and they are looking for their ‘own space’ online where information is targeted to them

Men surveyed told us that they want informative, cut-to-the chase pregnancy information in a conversational style so we took this on board in developing the guide”, said Dr Julie Green, Executive Director of Raising Children Network.

“Dads have a huge impact on their children and becoming a dad involves lots of learning as you go. The new Dads Guide to Pregnancy gives dads some tools to spend time on what they’re experiencing and to prepare for the changes in the lead-up to becoming a father – it’s a one-stop-shop that has everything, from money and work, what their partner is going through, preparing for their role in the birth as well as stories from dads describing the birth of their babies”.

All information on the Raising Children Network is based on scientifically validated research. To develop the Dads Guide to Pregnancy, the Raising Children Network also collaborated with experts on key topics, including input from organisations such as PANDA (Post & Antenatal Depression Association).

“We hope this unique guide leads to more conversations about men looking after themselves too, so that ultimately there are positive outcomes for the overall health and wellbeing of the new family to be”, said Dr Green.

To find the guide visit http://raisingchildren.net.au. The dads guide to pregnancy is on our homepage. You can also find Raising Children Network on Facebook (facebook.com/RaisingChildrenNetwork) and Twitter (www.twitter/RCN_AUS).

Raisingchildren.net.au is the complete Australian resource for parenting newborns to teens. Developed for Australian families, Raising Children Network is relevant to our unique health, education and support systems. It provides a comprehensive range of information on child health, development and behaviour from infancy to the middle teens in multiple formats (written, graphical, video and interactive resources). Supported by the Australian government, the member organisations of the Raising Children Network are the Parenting Research Centre and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute with The Royal Children’s Hospital Centre for Community Child Health.

M&C Saatchi releases landmark study of Aussie Men to coincide with International Men's Day

2013-11-19T22:05:39Z

M&C Saatchi yesterday released The Modern (Aussie) Man White Paper - an unprecedented qualitative study of Australian men to coincide with International Men's Day.

The study is the result of eight months of one-to-one interviews with 140 men. Seventy of who are an assortment of high profile leaders from media and marketing*, business, military, academia, sport and philanthropy. The other 70 were drawn from everyday men from all over Australia.

Click here for more on the Modern (Aussie) Man White Paper.

Click to download an oveview of the Modern (Aussie) Man White Paper - The Modern Aussie Man White Paper Overview.pdf

It was released at a launch lunch during the Australian Men's & Fathers' Strategic Roundtable in Parliament House, Canberra yesterday.

Hon. Kevin Andrews, MP federal minister for social services, introduced the White Paper's author, M&C Saatchi senior strategist Carolyn Managh, at the launch.

Says Managh: "The study aimed to draw a line under historic truths and modern-day stereotyping to paint a new portrait of our nation's masculinity and how men have evolved. This research steps around the minefield that stops everyday men from saying what they really think."

Among the plethora of findings from the study were a number of key marketing insights, including:

There is a huge, untapped opportunity for retailers given that men love buying, but hate shopping in the present paradigm
Men are unimpressed by what they perceive as largely outdated, stereotyped male messaging that men's brands target them with.

The White Paper distilled seven character types of which all Australian men are comprised of in varying degrees:

Broadband Connector, Action Man, Amateur Comedian, Nurturing Knight, Retail Ranger, Sensitive Cockatoo and Unassuming Romantic.

Says Jaimes Leggett (left), M&C Saatchi CEO: "There have been many assumptions made about Australian men. It was astonishing to realise how much men have changed in the 21st century, without universal recognition of this evolution. This landmark study, unlike any other, has gone directly to the source."

*Media and marketing respondents included in The Modern (Aussie) Man White Paper:

- George Negus, Veteran Journalist and TV Presenter

- Richard Wilkins, Network Nine Presenter 'The Today Show'

- Andrew McEvoy, Tourism Australia CEO

- Hamish McLachlin, Network Nine Sports Journalist

- Mark Brit, Nine MSN, CEO

- Ian Bell, Unilever Men's Lifestyle Division, Marketing Director

- Kerry McCabe, UnLtd (Media Assisting Youth), Founder

- Simon Traynor, Quicksilver Marketing Director

- Dare Jennings, Mambo & Deux ex Machina, Founder

- Rob Moodie, University of Melbourne Professor of Global Health and prominent health advocate

- Michael Klim, Milk Founder & Former Olympic Swimmer

21st Century Man: The Way Forward (Video)

2013-11-05T11:08:05Z

A stand-out session from the 2013 National Men's Health Gathering in Brisbane was the world-focus keynote discussion panel sponsored by the Australian Men's Health Forum, titled 21st Century Man: The Way Forward.

This discussion about the changing roles of men and boys is something Australia and the world have been waiting for – and is now available on YouTube.

Chaired by AMHF President, Julian Krieg, speakers included:

Dr Warren Farrell, educator and author
Glen Poole, Director of the UK consultancy Helping Men
Dr Arne Rubinstein, author “The Making of Men”
Gary Misan, University of South Australia.

Watch the complete forum:

Watch excerpts:

Gary Misan:

Glen Poole:

Dr Arne Rubenstein:

Dr Warren Farrell:

Q & A:

A Guide to Prostate Cancer and Intimacy

2013-04-16T13:31:01Z

Returning to sex after prostate cancer can be difficult. Following surgery and radiation treatments, many men experience declines in their sexual function, including impotency and lowered libido. Depending on factors such as age, erectile function before treatment, the type of treatment chosen and the extent of the cancer, the odds of returning to a "normal" sex life are 10 percent to upwards of 70 percent. However, this doesn't mean your sex life is gone — it's just different.

By reading this guide you're taking the first step toward regaining a healthy and satisfying intimate life with your partner. First we'll talk about why prostate cancer treatment so often leads to sexual dysfunction, then we'll look at what you can do to improve your recovery. Next you'll read tips for communication with your partner, and then get a list of questions to ask your doctor.

Why does prostate cancer treatment often result in sexual dysfunction?

The prostate is surrounded by sensitive nerves that both play a role in a man's sexual arousal and help stimulate the penis to become erect. During prostate surgery, it's very difficult for surgeons to separate the prostate from the surrounding nerves without damaging those nerves. The good news is that it is often possible for these nerves to heal, but the bad news is that this tends to happen very slowly — it's common for it to take a year, or in some cases even up to four years, before men see a return of their erection. Other things you should know:

Before prostate surgery, choose your surgeon and procedure wisely. Not all surgeons are created equal, and different surgeons may have differing levels of skill, or be skilled only in a particular procedure. The Davinci robot, for example, allows for the possibility of very little damage to surrounding tissue when operating on the prostate, but the surgeon must be extremely skilled in the tool — otherwise, you might end up worse off than with a less precise tool. The SMART technique has a good success rate when it comes to retaining potency. Do your research and decide what procedure and surgeon are right for you.
Following prostate surgery, men will no longer be able to ejaculate. Without the prostate and seminal vesicles, seminal fluid has no pathway to leave the body. Luckily, it is possible to still have satisfying dry orgasms, although this change may take some getting used to on the part of both partners.
If instead of surgery you've had hormone therapy, you may physically be capable of erection but have little or no interest in sex. This is a common side effect of the hormones being introduced into your body, and you should not blame yourself and make it clear to your partner that he or she is not to blame either.
Psychological factors also come into play after treatment for prostate cancer. These come in a few different forms:
- Loss of libido can be devastating to a man, which often serves to reinforce the sexual dysfunction he's experiencing.
- A common side effect of hormone therapy are bodily changes that some men find embarrassing or emasculating.
- Following surgery, leaking urine during sex is common. For many men, the fear of leaking urine or being unable to get or maintain an erection creates embarrassment around the idea of sex, leading to avoidance.

As disheartening as they may be at times, all of these effects are normal. Remember that with time and treatment, it is often possible to recover and/or redefine a satisfying intimate life with your partner.

What are my options for recovery?

There are a few things you can do to drastically improve your sex life following treatment for prostate cancer. Some of these suggestions may be very different from how you've had sex in the past, but trying to keep an open mind regarding what sex is and isn't can go a long way toward helping you and your partner to rediscover each other sexually. For some couples, being open to new options paves the way for a mutually satisfying sex life that never would have been possible before cancer.

Penile rehabilitation. Penile rehabilitation is a treatment for erectile dysfunction that involves stimulating the penis intermittently during the recovery period. Treatment should begin as soon as possible following removal of the catheter post-surgery. There are several types of treatment that fall under the umbrella term of "penile rehabilitation":
- PDE-5 inhibitors: Oral medications such as Viagra, Cialis or Levitra are often used successfully to stimulate the penis following prostate surgery. About 90 percent of patients will experience erections following treatment with these sorts of pills, so this is usually the first stop for patients with erectile dysfunction.
- Penile injection therapies: This type of therapy is exactly what it sounds like — the penis is injected with medication to create an erection, which lasts roughly 30 minutes to an hour. The injection tends to sting a little, and it's important for patients to give their doctors feedback about the dosage, as too much of this medication may cause priapism, or painful erections lasting longer than four hours.
- Vacuum erection devices: A vacuum erection device (VED) fills the penis with blood by creating a vacuum. Once an erection is achieved, it's maintained by then placing a rubber ring at the base of the penis. A benefit of VEDs is that a man or his partner can control exactly when he gets an erection, and using the VED can be incorporated into sex play. However, for some men this device feels less "natural" than other ways of getting an erection post-surgery, and some experience discomfort caused by the ring.
Meet with a sex therapist or counselor. It's natural for you and your partner to have a lot of confused feelings about sex following prostate surgery. Many patients become depressed or anxious, and many feel ashamed or frustrated by their difficulty achieving erection. Meeting with a sex therapist or a counselor during this period can be very beneficial to helping you and your partner communicate better, encouraging you to work through your feelings about how your sex life has changed, and finding new ways to connect sexually.
Use toys and masturbation in sex play with your partner. If you and your partner have never used sex toys or masturbated together before, it can feel awkward at first to incorporate these behaviors into your sex play. However, the benefits for both partners will likely soon outweigh your discomfort, if you have any. There are a few ways you can use sex toys and masturbation with your partner:
- For men recovering from prostate surgery, the use of vibrators and cock rings may be beneficial in creating and maintaining erections.
- If you're unable to achieve an erection strong enough for penetrative sex, using these toys on your partner may allow you to retain control over satisfying your partner.
- Masturbating, both alone and with your partner, is a great way to reteach your body to respond to sexual touch, and to relearn what you respond to. By modeling to your partner what you like, you can learn together how to satisfy you — and you can demonstrate that an erection is NOT necessary to achieve orgasm.
Adjust your expectations. It's normal for men to experience sexual problems after treatment for prostate cancer. When you first return to being sexual with your partner, you should both go into the experience without any expectations of each other. You may not be able to pick back up where you left off, but you can forge new territory together, as a couple.

The goal is to make the recovery process one of exploration and discovery, as though you and your partner are getting to know each other for the first time. Sex will likely be different after prostate cancer than it was before, and it may at times be frustrating for one or both partners. However, by adopting an open-minded attitude and limiting expectations, you may find that you reach a new level of intimacy in your relationship.

Communication is key.

Talking about sex isn't always easy, even with the person you love. But like it or not, prostate cancer practically forces you to talk to your partner about sex. And as difficult as that may be for couples who are not accustomed to discussing sex, this may actually be the silver lining to the painful, life-changing experience that is prostate cancer.

Here are some tips for opening up a discussion:

Don't wait. The longer you wait after treatment for prostate cancer, the more difficult opening up a discussion of your intimate life will be. And certainly don't wait until you're in the midst of a sexual situation — discuss your concerns or ideas in advance so that you both know what to expect.
Be honest, even when it's difficult. Some men shut down when faced with impotency or fears surrounding their sexual performance. But this is the time when your partner needs to hear from you most. By diving into a discussion rather than keeping your partner in the dark, you reinforce to her or him that your relationship is important — and you open up the possibility of finding solutions together.
Listen compassionately. Treatment for prostate cancer and the resulting complications can be just as difficult for your partner as they are for you. Allow your partner to share his or her feelings, and listen without judgment. Try to really understand where your partner is coming from.
Don't assume you understand each other. Be clear and precise when you talk about sex. If you're worried about leaking urine during sex, for instance, don't try to get by on "I'm worried something bad might happen" and assume your partner knows what you mean. Be specific so that you're both really able to understand what the other is thinking and feeling.

When you start to talk to your partner about your intimate life, an amazing thing happens: You both become more satisfied, more willing to experiment with things you've always wanted to try, and in the end you may even become happier with each other.

Questions to ask your doctor

This article is meant to give you an overview of what to expect from sex following treatment for prostate cancer, but you should always check with your doctor before rekindling your sex life with your partner. Circumstances vary from individual to individual and from treatment to treatment, so your doctor will be able to talk with you about your specific situation. Here are some questions you might want to ask:

Has there been nerve damage to the penis that may interfere with my ability to get an erection?
How soon after treatment can I attempt to have sex?
Given my age and the type of treatment, what are the odds that I will be able to get and maintain an erection after treatment?
If I won't be able to have erections right away, how long should it take before I'm able?
Will I need penile rehabilitation? What method do you think will work best for me?
Have there been any new advances that may improve my odds of having a healthy sex life after prostate cancer treatment?

It's true: Sex may not be the same as it used to be. But by taking baby steps, it's possible to create a new normal with your partner that may even be more open, honest and intimate than the sex you used to have. You can never go back to the days before cancer, but move into the future without fear — and with your partner by your side.

New Male Studies: An International Journal

2013-03-02T12:16:21Z

New Male Studies: An International Journal (NMS) is an open access online interdisciplinary forum for research and discussion of issues facing boys and men worldwide.

Rationale

In response to a now well-documented decline in the overall well-being of males in postmodern culture, a group of Australian, Canadian, European and American scholars have gathered to work together to publish research essays, opinion pieces, and book reviews on all aspects of the male experience.

Main Foci

Several broad areas of fundamental interest and concern have been identified:

(1) the experience and outcomes of education for boys and young men, (2) challenges and difficulties of developmental transition for males – especially adolescents, (3) significant disparities in health outcomes for men compared with women, (4) the vital role of fathering, (5) the inordinate number of males in the penal system, (6) the characterisations of men and boys cultivated within popular culture, academe, and many social institutions, and (7) how men experience and are affected by the kinds of occupational, familial, and social roles that are culturally required of them.

Tri-annual Publication

New Male Studies will three times annually publish invited manuscripts by experts in their fields as well as contributions by young scholars and others submitted for peer review.

Website design and web hosting provided by the Australian Institute of Male Health and Studies.

Editorial Stance

The journal’s editorial and advisory board members envision the new male studies as providing an academic, non-polemical, and proactive forum for the clarification of issues and the promotion of fresh approaches to understanding and addressing challenges boys and men currently face.

Quantitative and qualitative research, opinion pieces, essays, and relevant book reviews are welcome, as are reflections of a personal nature of interest to those who have had similar experiences.

Scholars will be published who work in areas as diverse as: law, economics, psychology, biology, genetics, medicine, anthropology, literature, education, forensics, public policy, demography, history, sociology, and other related disciplines.

The journal will play a pivotal role as a forum for discussion, and a clearinghouse of work being carried on in academe, government, and at the grassroots level. The work of all academics including independent scholars is especially welcome.

NMS Position Statement

Discussion of gender in the last half century has often been characterised by a polarisation of the sexes; making it very difficult to engage with issues of vital importance to healthy interpersonal and social relationships. Gender ideology - and reactions against it - all too often have not only curtailed possibilities of reasoned dialogue, but have sidelined crucial informative evidence and silenced individuals with unpopular views.

NMS recognises the need to pursue a different approach to understanding gender issues and the contemporary experience and roles of males in society; an approach that is:

· open to constructive academic dialogue guided by available evidence of a range of different academic disciplines, consideration of both men’s and women’s particular cultural experience and circumstances, and the indispensable contribution both sexes make to the quality and viability of family and community life;

· guided by principles of equity, intellectual integrity, and a view of human experience, society, and ethics that is inseparable from biological, psychological, cultural, economic realities

· careful to avoid intellectual reductionism, political partisanship, ideological advocacy and defensiveness, while instead openly pursuing enquiring and dynamic multidisciplinary scholarship

Download NMS Volume 1 Issue 1 (2012) as a PDF

Download NMS Volume 1 Issue 2 (2012) as a PDF

Download NMS Volume 1 Issue 3 (2012) as a PDF

Download NMS Volume 2 Issue 1 (2013) as a PDF

Here are 4 important men's health things we think you should know about...

2013-02-27T05:09:54Z

From the Men's Health Information and Resource Centre at the University of Western Sydney.

2013 is shaping up to be a huge year for people working in male health. There's plenty on!

1. The eternal question: how do we get men to become involved in programs?

Not surprisingly, this is one of the most common questions as organisations consider how to meet the health needs of males. Engaging Men is an important training event to be held in Newcastle on March 14 and 15.

At just $400 for a full two-day program, you'll come away being a better worker with an improved ability to reach out to men and help them help themselves. It's the kind of event that will pay for itself just in improved attendance at your own events (think Men's Health Week)!

Find out the details >>

2. What actually works in male health programs? What have other people done that has succeeded?

Lots of people are doing lots of good work in male health. We set out to capture some of the results of this work through our new clearinghouse, MENGAGE. Usually when an organisation releases a report, they also issue a media release, maybe some photos, a summary document, maybe a video or recording. Normally, these items are distributed across their website.

What we do with MENGAGE is create a profile that links to these resources from one page. It's an easy, free way to complement your own website and help other services make better use of your hard work.

Find out the details >>

3. Lots of talk about Closing The Gap and the health of Aboriginal people.

The Shed at Mount Druitt in NSW has become a safe and trusted place where men and their families can come to access the kinds of help they need during difficult or not-so-difficult times.

We thought it was about time to tell the inside story of the work of The Shed. Our new 12-page ebook is a personal account of individual and community efforts to reduce suicide in their own community.

Find out the details >>

4. Three 'Save The Dates' you should diarise...

Here are three important dates for you to put in the diary. These are ideal development opportunities for services to better meet the needs of men and boys:

Put this one in your diary - we're pulling together a unique event focusing on the transition of boys from school into the big, wide world. Thursday May 2nd 2013 in the Sydney CBD.

Men's Health Week starts on June 10th. You will be able to order resources to help you run events and get yourself an event profile on the website. Website opens March 4th 2013.

The big National Men's Health Gathering is on October 22nd 2013 in Brisbane! Actually it's three conferences rolled into one, so it's a great way to dive into the many aspects of male health work.

Book review of "Legalizing Misandry: From Public Shame to Systemic Discrimination " by Edward Kruk

2013-01-31T12:12:00Z

This book is, in a word, courageous, in one sense in particular: it exposes how ideologies, “isms” based on an assumed superiority in which one group feels entitled to power over another, have no place in the quest for social justice, equality among human beings, because a state of inequality is inherently undermining of human well being. The example presented by Paul Nathanson and Katherine K. Young of McGill University, in their book Legalizing Misandry, is that of ideological feminism. This is the second book in their trilogy, Spreading Misandry being the first and Transcending Misandry the forthcoming concluding volume.

Legalizing Misandry: From Public Shame to Systemic Discrimination Against Men, despite its breadth, may have only skimmed the surface of the topic of institutionalized hatred against men in North American society, a “top-down” phenomenon with ideological third wave feminism as its source. Yet the book brings the full range of the current anti-male discourse in US and Canadian academic and legal circles into the spotlight, examining, among other issues, sexual abuse, violence against women, workplace harassment, child custody, prostitution and pornography, and human rights as entitlements.

From New Male Studies: An International Journal - Vol. 2, Issue 1, 2013, pp. 82-84.

Download full review.

Book review of "The Good Men Project: Real Stories From the Frontline of Manhood" by K.C. Glover

2013-01-31T12:09:00Z

David Gilmore in his expertly crafted study of masculinity, Manhood in the Making: Cultural Concepts of Masculinity (1992), points out that manhood is nearly ubiquitous in the cultures of the world. Very early on in his book, Gilmore introduces us to the Fox Indians, one of the aboriginal peoples of North America, whose word for manhood translates into English as “the Big Impossible.” Anyone involved in discussions of manhood would do well to remember this fact. With this in mind I undertook a reading of The Good Men Project, a collection of thirty-one essays written by “a broad range of men – rich, poor, black, white, gay, straight, urban, rural, famous, [and] ordinary” (from the back cover).

If anyone has had the displeasure of sitting through a gender studies course in contemporary academe, he may be familiar with a kind of class that is run as a sort of self-help group, where mostly young women trade stories of victimhood at the hands of the patriarchy amid rage and tears, while the two or three silent young men in class sweat profusely in their chairs. Luckily for us The Good Men Project is not like one of these classes. While a few of the stories delve into that weepy emotionalism, for the most part these essays have, as another reviewer put quite succinctly, “balls.” The men who wrote these essays are not trying to burden us with their problems or to saturate us with their emotions, but to give us snapshots from the stories of their lives, some of which are able to deliver a devastating emotional payload precisely because of their reserve and dignity. These stories break the great male silence and allow us to start our own analysis.

From New Male Studies: An International Journal - Vol. 2, Issue 1, 2013, pp. 78-81.

Download full review.

St. Francis House: Mentoring Young Men in a Fatherless Society. By Joseph Campo

2013-01-31T12:03:00Z

The centrality of a father or male mentor in the life of a young man is discussed by the director of St. Francis House, in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York. A brief description of this home for boys 18 years and older who have come from extremely difficult situations is followed by reflections on the importance of men’s personal commitment to boys, in particular the combination of a male model for young men’s spiritual life.

From New Male Studies: An International Journal - Vol. 2, Issue 1, 2013, pp. 72-77.

Download article.

The Primordial Man. By Jan Andersen

2013-01-31T12:00:00Z

The work of commercial artist Jan H. Andersen, who is well known for his stock images of boys and men, is discussed in this biographical essay that reveals much more than his work as an artist. He describes his journey from doing social work with children to being a leading observer of the inner lives of boys as revealed in the portraits he creates. The emotional life of boys is not a mystery to them, as their participation in the staging of pictures reveals. The author suggests that we are on the verge of a “small revolution” in the way we will see boys that will be carried out by boys themselves. The importance of social media for boys as an outlet for previously hidden feelings is emphasized.

From New Male Studies: An International Journal - Vol. 2, Issue 1, 2013, pp. 58-71.

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Perceptions of Sex and Sexual Health among College Men: Implications of Maladaptive Habits in Physical and Social Relationship Formation. By Michael Rovito

2013-01-31T11:57:00Z

Fear, vulnerability, stigma, and masculinity are important concepts to consider when promoting health among males. However, most health education efforts targeted towards males, particularly college-aged males, do not fully grasp the influence of these variables upon men to assist with them adopting healthier romantic and sexual relationships.

This discussion presents trends from a university-based seminar during the 2011-2012 academic year conducted with college students on maladaptive sexual habits, including promiscuity, subjective norms of sex and relationships, alcohol abuse, and inconsistent STD protection, as they pertain to physical and social relationships. Approximately 225 college-aged men and women attended the seminar. A particular emphasis was placed on perceived masculinity and gender roles within the social environment and how they influence physical and social relationship formation.

The seminar was a first step for future effectiveness testing of message-delivery systems in relationship and sexual health behavioral modification research among college men. This paper presents lessons learned from this exploratory approach in community health outreach efforts. We advocate that such seminars can be an efficient and effective way to raise awareness and promote wellness among male college students.

From New Male Studies: An International Journal - Vol. 2, Issue 1, 2013, pp. 46-57.

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The Completely Unregulated Practice of Male Circumcision: Human Rights’ Abuse Enshrined in Law? By John Geisheker

2013-01-31T11:52:00Z

We are witnessing a disturbing tend to “enshrine” male circumcision into law, shielding the practice from health and safety regulation of any kind. This trend precedes any honest attempt to assess “morbidity,” the unavoidable complications of any surgery, especially poignant for this unregulated and pre-germ-theory practice. Without a thorough assessment of morbidity, all bioethical discussions are, logically, premature. The author details a “permissive and incautious” milieu, including a lack of qualifications for circumcisers, rudimentary training, septic non-clinical settings, withheld anesthesia and analgesia, sub-optimal surgical protocols, a lack of back-up resources, minimal post-operative observation, minimal legal remedies, and other shortcomings. It is argued that serious inquiry must ethically precede blanket legal protections accommodating atavistic adult urges.

From New Male Studies: An International Journal - Vol. 2, Issue 1, 2013, pp. 18-45.

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Male Victims of Domestic Violence. By Don Dutton and Katherine White

2013-01-31T11:48:00Z

Intimate partner violence (IPV) or domestic violence (DV) is often framed as a “woman’s issue” or “violence against women” generating the perception of males involved in violent relationships as the aggressor and more capable of inflicting injury or causing harm to their partner. Due to this set of beliefs called the “gender paradigm”, male victims are often met with disbelief or suspicion when they attempt to gain protection from a female partner, or access services. Male victims may also report difficulty in locating services specific to their needs, as help lines or shelters are targeted exclusively towards female victims. These issues and the implications for male victims will be discussed.

From New Male Studies: An International Journal - Vol. 2, Issue 1, 2013, pp. 5-17.

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Boaz Behaving Badly. By Malina Saval

2013-01-28T04:13:41Z

Temper tantrums, emotional meltdowns and screaming fits in public venues are everyday events in the life of Boaz, a feisty and affectionate five year-old boy with behavioral issues and developmental delays. The wondrous yet sometimes thorny world of boyhood is presented from the perspective of a mother who feels the incessant need to leap to her young son's defense.

From New Male Studies: An International Journal - Vol. 1, Issue 1, 2012, pp. 108-115.

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Manliness, Gentlemanliness, and the Manhood Question in George Eliot’s Adam Bede. By Dennis Gouws

2013-01-28T04:11:24Z

Adam Bede revisits topical changes to English manliness and gentlemanliness at the turn of the nineteenth century. In her novel, written almost sixty years into the 1800s, George Eliot recognizes how new thinking about these gendered concepts changed the traditional ways men governed their manhood. Arthur Donnithorne and Adam Bede most prominently represent contending late-eighteenth century and early nineteenth-century forms of manhood in the novel, and they fittingly test their mettle by boxing, which many contemporary Britons thought fostered manly and gentlemanly qualities. Both men are profoundly affected by their fight. Each learns the limits of his particular form of manhood: Arthur realizes that traditional gentlemanliness no longer entitles him to unaccountable behavior; Adam discovers that attaining manhood requires a commitment to managing manly conduct attentively.

From New Male Studies: An International Journal - Vol. 1, Issue 1, 2012, pp. 94-107.

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Meeting Men: Male Intimacy and College Men Centers. By Miles Groth

2013-01-28T04:08:53Z

Given the ongoing trend of declining enrollments of males in college (currently at 40%), it is essential for educators and parents to understand its causes. As the issue becomes better understood, in the meantime the important part played by men's groups on college and university campuses to support young males has become evident. The functions of such groups are varied, but their basic value is to provide a safe space for an experience of genuine intimacy with other males.

From New Male Studies: An International Journal - Vol. 1, Issue 1, 2012, pp. 83-93.

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But Are the Kids Really All Right? Egalitarian Rhetoric, Legal Theory and Fathers. By Katherine Young and Paul Nathanson

2013-01-28T04:06:20Z

The underlying but disguised premise of a widely acclaimed recent movie, The Kids Are All Right, is that children do not need fathers. Because fatherhood is the only remaining source of masculine identity, however, this premise damages not only children (especially boys) and men but also, by implication, society as a whole.

From New Male Studies: An International Journal - Vol. 1, Issue 1, 2012, pp. 61-82.

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Moral Panic: Male Studies and the Spectre of Denial. By Robert Kenedy

2013-01-28T04:02:43Z

The absence of male studies programs in Canada is both a result of and clear evidence that political correctness along with moral panic and gender feminism or third wave feminism have a grip on academe, creating an adversarial schism. Over the last three decades, this has marginalized a more inclusive, multi‐perspective “male studies” discipline to the periphery of academe. It has resulted in mainly feminist and pro‐feminist men’s studies programs and research that focus on men as primarily being violent victimizers, as well as secondary and disengaged parents. Male studies programs and a journal are necessary to reveal the “lived male experience.”

From New Male Studies: An International Journal - Vol. 1, Issue 1, 2012, pp. 52-60.

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