Movember, All About Males’s Well being Consciousness Month

Welcome to Movember, aka Males’s Well being Consciousness Month, aka the month the place the streets are full of males rising out their mustaches. Whereas we like to see everybody enthusiastic about having an excuse to not shave, we’re right here to remind everybody that this month holds actual significance locally.  

So, what’s Movember all about? Movember takes place yearly in, you guessed it, November. The annual occasion raises consciousness for males’s well being points together with prostate most cancers, testicular most cancers, and males’s psychological well being. The Movember Basis has helped lead the cost in creating consciousness for this subject.  Whereas males’s well being ought to all the time be a precedence, this month serves as a yearly reminder to schedule that annual wellness examination, eat a little bit bit more healthy, attain out to a therapist, or implement different ways to advertise sexual, psychological, and bodily well being. 

Present me how you’re employed, work, work on that bodily wellness 

It’s no secret that bodily wellness has an influence in your general well being. Bodily wellness seems to be completely different on everybody – to at least one particular person it might be eliminating sure meals from their food plan and to a different particular person, it is occurring a each day stroll. However one factor is for positive, bodily wellness is extraordinarily helpful for long-term well being.  

Within the true spirit of Movember, we are going to dive into all issues sexual well being because it pertains to the male anatomy, particularly the prostate and testicles. To start out, prostate most cancers is the second commonest most cancers in the US, based on the American Most cancers Society. The truth is, about one in eight males might be recognized with prostate most cancers of their lifetime and it largely impacts males ages 65+. This doesn’t imply that males youthful than 65 shouldn’t be examined for prostate most cancers, particularly if there’s a household historical past of the illness. 

Whereas there isn’t a approach to fully get rid of one’s probabilities of creating prostate or testicular most cancers, there are positive methods to scale back the chance. By contemplating the steps under, as outlined by the Mayo Clinic, you gained’t solely really feel higher bodily, however you may additionally expertise a optimistic influence in your psychological and sexual wellbeing as properly. 

1. Select a nutritious diet 

There’s energy behind the meals that we select to place in our our bodies. Understanding the dietary worth behind completely different meals may also help assist within the improvement of a nourishing food plan. Take into account including extra fruits, greens, and omega-3 fatty acids. 

2. Preserve a wholesome weight 

It goes with out saying, however sustaining a wholesome weight performs a key function in staying properly “wholesome”. Weight seems to be completely different for everybody, so contemplate consulting your physician about what’s finest for you. Not solely does sustaining a wholesome weight assist stop prostate most cancers, however it might probably additionally scale back the chance of creating different well being points as properly. 

3. Train typically 

Train is among the keys to staying wholesome. Not solely can it scale back irritation and enhance immune perform, however it might probably additionally assist battle the destructive well being results of an inactive life-style. 

4. Have open conversations together with your physician 

One of the simplest ways to develop wholesome habits is to grasp why you might be constructing them, and that begins by having open, trustworthy conversations together with your physician about your bodily wellness and well being journey. It’s additionally essential to speak to your physician about common prostate exams when you hit 65+ (or earlier relying on household historical past). Your physician can advise you on when and the way it’s best to begin screening for prostate and testicular most cancers, in addition to on how you can develop wholesome habits. 

It’s about time we speak about sexual wellness  

You might ask your self, “sexual wellness, what might that presumably imply?” Properly, it’s really extraordinarily essential to have a powerful understanding of what it means to be sexually wholesome as a result of it impacts your psychological and bodily well being as properly. Sexual well being isn’t nearly carrying a condom to remain secure from sexually transmitted ailments (STIs) or stopping unplanned pregnancies, nevertheless it additionally offers with the way you understand intercourse. Medgadget explains sexual wellness as a mix of 1’s bodily state, psychological state, and social wellbeing because it connects to sexuality. Mainly, feeling comfy and assured about intercourse and sexuality is the aim.  

Dr. Justin Lehmiller, ASTROGLIDE’s Resident Intercourse Researcher, comes to the rescue to stroll us by what it means to be sexually wholesome and how you can improve your sexual well being. Beneath are a number of key parts and steps that enhance your sexual well being, so take notes. 

1. Unburden your self from sexual disgrace and guilt 

Since sexual well being ties into the way you understand intercourse, it is very important be open and trustworthy with your self and any potential companions. When you really feel disgrace, embarrassment, uneasiness, or different destructive feelings about intercourse or your sexual fantasies, likelihood is you’ll have a tough time having fun with it. So, what’s the important thing to unburdening your self from any potential disgrace? Self-acceptance and readjusting your beliefs for what is taken into account ‘regular’ relating to intercourse. 

2. Really feel comfy and assured discussing intercourse 

We have now all heard that communication is essential, and this holds true for communication earlier than, throughout, and after intercourse. A scarcity of communication could cause pointless battle for sexual companions. If you don’t talk what you want or dislike throughout intercourse, how is your associate anticipated to know? 

Unburden your self from sexual disgrace may also help take away a heavy barrier and aid you specific what feels good. There are a number of methods to speak what you need sexually to your associate: 

• Speak them by your fantasies 
• Moan and groan when one thing feels good, signaling to your associate that no matter they’re doing feels proper. This can be a nice alternative to introduce lube into the bed room to reinforce pleasure – attempt utilizing ASTROGLIDE Quiver Liquid for a contact of sensation. 
• Present them! Contact your self whereas your associate watches to allow them to get a greater sense of what you need 

3. Perceive your physique

Nobody is aware of your physique higher than you do, so discover, don’t be shy. Masturbation is a good way to realize confidence each out and in of the bed room. Take your time with it, not each masturbation session wants to finish shortly simply to get the job completed. Perceive your physique and what feels finest: experiment with toys, attempt a brand new sort of lubricant, masturbate in entrance of the mirror. Feeling comfy and assured in your physique will result in stronger sexual well being. 

Nonetheless curious concerning the connection between sexual and psychological well being? Dr. Joshua Gonzalez, ASTROGLIDE’s Sexual Well being Advisor, sat down with Dr. Justin to debate the connection between the 2. Take a look at this video-

Deal with your mentals  

There’s plenty of stigma surrounding psychological well being, particularly amongst cis-gendered males who are sometimes uncovered to poisonous masculinity. It’s time to smash the stigma round psychological well being and provide everybody equal assets to emote and get assist when wanted. Psychological well being impacts on a regular basis life and is an important part of general wellness. We should get away of the narrative that males shouldn’t focus on psychological well being as a result of practically 1 in 10 males in the US suffers from various ranges of each day despair or anxiousness. 

Nonetheless not satisfied that males’s psychological well being must be taken critically? The American Basis for Suicide Prevention discovered that in 2019, males had been 3.63x extra probably to die by suicide than girls. There are a few indicators which can be indicators that you just or somebody near you could also be struggling and may search skilled assist: 

• Change in temper 
• Distinction in work efficiency 
• Weight adjustments 
• Disappointment, hopelessness, or anhedonia (a lack of pleasure and pulling away from issues that used to supply enjoyment) 
• Bodily signs, reminiscent of complications and abdomen points 

When you or a beloved one is experiencing any of those signs an excellent place to start out is by scheduling an appointment with a therapist, main physician, or different psychological well being skilled. If this feels too daunting there are on-line assets that may level you in the best path:  

Nationwide Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255 

Suicide Prevention Useful resource Heart: https://www.sprc.org/  

In case you are inquisitive about how you can become involved in Males’s Well being Consciousness Month or are on the lookout for further assets, take a look at the Movember web site right here. So now when somebody asks you, “what’s Movember all about,” you’ll be outfitted with the reply.