Why men are facing threat of extinction - Professor

by JENNY HOPE, Daily Mail

Men could be in danger of extinction because of the threat posed by sperm banks, fertility treatment and human cloning, say doctors.

They have higher death rates for all 15 leading causes of death and their life expectancy is about seven years shorter than women's.

Most importantly, in developed countries women can carry out jobs that were once the preserve of males and in some cases do them better, according to Professor Siegfried Meryn, President of the First World Congress on Men's Health.

He claims traditional attitudes about the role of men in societies could lead to their demise.

'There is a sustained increase in psychosocial disorders in men, including alcohol and substance abuse, mid-life crisis, depression, and domestic violence, while men's increasing aggression also remains an unsolved health and societal problem.

'Over 30 wars and conflicts rage around the world, mostly created, maintained and aggravated by men.'

Professor Meryn, of the University of Vienna, writes in an editorial in the British Medical Journal today that men's life expectancy could worsen compared with women and there is speculation about the continued existence of the gender.

He says: 'Despite having had most of the social determinants of health in their favour, men have higher mortality rates for all leading causes of deaths and a life expectancy about seven years shorter than women's.

'Men's reluctance to embrace preventive strategies has also contributed to the spread of Aids, particularly in Africa, and to an alarming rise in infections among young men, including sexually transmitted diseases.

'Will we see the gap in life expectancy between men and women widen as the gaps in social determinants of health become narrower? The answer is probably yes, unless women continue to adopt the same negative behaviours that characterise men today.

'With the advent of sperm banks, in-vitro fertilisation, sex sorting techniques, human cloning, and same-sex marriages, it is reasonable to wonder about the future role of men in society.'

Professor Meryn says Men's World Day tomorrow is an opportunity to highlight the urgent need to advertise and promote men's health in a positive way.

The launch of initiatives such as the International Society for Men's Health and the European Men's Health Forum will act 'as strong platforms to support long-term strategic and innovative research on men's health', he adds.

Dr Ian Banks, President of the European Men's Health Forum, said men worry about their health but feel unable to talk about it until it is often too late. Attending a general practice surgery can be difficult and they often find it 'male unfriendly'.

Dr Banks added: 'Men may also be deterred from using new services like NHS Direct and walk-in centres because they are led by nurses.'

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