Medical experts have called for men to take better care of their health and become more aware of family planning issues and AIDS prevention.

Speaking at the nation's fifth Male Health Day, experts said Thursday that middle-aged men face the biggest threat to their health.

"Men are more reluctant than women to visit doctors or tell their families about health problems," said Zhao Yufeng, secretary general of China Population Culture Enhancement Association.

"Especially the case if the problem relates to the reproductive system."

Experts say mortality rates for those aged between 45 and 54 in China have doubled in the past 10 years, with the rate increasing by 73 percent in men but only 15 percent in women.

"Male health has become a major problem due to the increasing pressure of modern life, which encourages an unhealthy lifestyle," said Qi Guangchong, vice president of the Traditional Chinese Medicaid Andrology Association.

According to a recent survey, about 52.5 percent of the male population above 40 suffer some form of erectile dysfunction and wait an average of 22 months before visiting a doctor about the problem.

The waiting period is 30 months for local men.

"The city has introduced many male health services and is providing education on family planning and AIDS prevention," said Xie Lingli, director of the Shanghai Population and Family Planning Commission.

"We have launched a 24-hour male reproductive health hot line and started education programs."

Condom use in the city has also increased to 19.5 percent this year from 13.12 percent in 2000.

(Shanghai Daily October 29, 2004)