Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at [email protected] or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words.I refer to the article, “How men can best protect themselves against the many health crises they face in midlife” (June 20).Throughout June we celebrate Men’s Health Month, but for many men it passes quietly. The silence might be the issue, with too many men still putting off care even when something does not feel right. This is something we need to change.Men’s health outcomes trail women’s in many key areas. Men live an average of five fewer years than women. Life expectancy disparities have persisted since 1950. Studies reveal that men are also less likely to seek medical attention than women. In middle age, when risks such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and some cancers rise, this reluctance can be costly.Part of the challenge lies in how men are often taught to think about health. Many of us grow up absorbing the message that strength means endurance and self-reliance. But ignoring pain, anxiety, fatigue or changes in sexual health is not strength; it is risk. Knowing when to act, understanding what is happening and asking for help early should be seen as part of taking responsibility for our health.In recent years, we have seen greater openness around many health topics that were once difficult to discuss, from mental health to cancer screening and preventive care. Men’s health needs to be part of that same shift. Andropause, sometimes described as age-related testosterone decline, remains under-recognised and rarely discussed. While not every man has symptoms, some may experience reduced energy, difficulty concentrating, lower libido or low mood. Too often, these signs are dismissed as normal ageing or hidden because they feel awkward to discuss.Healthcare providers, employers and community leaders all have a role to play. We must make preventive care easier to access and easier to talk about by encouraging regular screenings, normalising open conversations about health, creating workplace cultures where employees can take time for check-ups and using language that reaches men without judgment.