Men in the United Kingdom die an average of 3.7 years earlier than women, according to the Office for National Statistics. They are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, more likely to die from cancer, three times more likely to die by suicide — and significantly less likely to visit a GP. Community pharmacists, who see patients without appointments and without referral, are often the only healthcare professionals many men encounter regularly.

This guide brings together the key areas where pharmacy can make a measurable difference to men's health outcomes.

Cardiovascular risk: the pharmacy screening opportunity

Heart and circulatory diseases remain the leading cause of death in UK men, accounting for roughly 1 in 4 male deaths according to the British Heart Foundation. Community pharmacies are increasingly positioned as cardiovascular screening hubs.

Blood pressure checks: The NHS Hypertension Case-Finding Service, delivered through community pharmacies, identifies undiagnosed hypertension — a condition that affects an estimated 1 in 4 UK adults, many of whom are unaware. Pharmacists performing these checks should be particularly attentive to men over 40 who have never had their blood pressure measured. A reading above 140/90 mmHg warrants ambulatory monitoring or referral.

Cholesterol awareness: While point-of-care cholesterol testing is not yet standard in UK community pharmacy, pharmacists can calculate QRISK3 scores using available data (age, blood pressure, smoking status, family history) and refer high-risk men for lipid testing.

Statin counselling: Men initiated on statins often have questions about side effects, particularly muscle pain. Pharmacists should reassure that clinically significant myopathy is rare, while taking reported symptoms seriously and ensuring the prescriber is aware. The PharmSee pharmacy guide to cardiovascular screening can help patients find a pharmacy offering blood pressure checks near them.

Prostate health: what men ask at the counter

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) affects approximately 50 per cent of men over 50 and up to 80 per cent of men over 80. Symptoms — urinary frequency, urgency, nocturia, weak stream and incomplete emptying — frequently prompt pharmacy visits.

OTC options: Pharmacists can recommend saw palmetto-based supplements (evidence is mixed but safety is good), advise on fluid management (reducing caffeine and alcohol, avoiding fluids before bedtime) and suggest bladder training techniques.

When to refer: Any man presenting with new urinary symptoms should be asked about red flags: haematuria, weight loss, bone pain or a family history of prostate cancer. These warrant GP referral. A PSA test discussion should happen with the GP, not at the pharmacy counter — pharmacists should facilitate this conversation, not replace it.

Mental health: the quiet crisis

Men account for approximately 75 per cent of UK suicides. They are less likely to be diagnosed with depression, less likely to seek help and less likely to be referred to psychological therapies.

Pharmacists are in a privileged position. A man collecting an antidepressant prescription who mentions he is "not sleeping" or "not himself" may be giving the only signal he will give. Pharmacists should:

• Ask open-ended questions: "How have you been finding things recently?" rather than "Are you okay?"
• Know the local mental health crisis pathways — NHS 111, Samaritans (116 123), local crisis teams
• Be alert to changes in prescription patterns — sudden requests for early supply, or lapsed collections, can indicate risk
• Follow up at the next dispensing touchpoint

The PharmSee article on male mental health and pharmacy covers this area in depth, including practical signposting resources.

Sexual health

Erectile dysfunction: Sildenafil 50mg has been available over the counter from pharmacies since 2018 (as Viagra Connect). Pharmacists should screen for cardiovascular risk factors (ED is an independent marker for future cardiovascular events), check for nitrate co-prescriptions (absolute contraindication) and discuss timing and food interactions (fatty meals delay absorption).

STI awareness: While pharmacies do not routinely test for sexually transmitted infections, they can signpost to local sexual health clinics, provide condoms and — in some areas — distribute chlamydia self-test kits. Men who have sex with men should be aware of PrEP availability through sexual health services.

Weight management

Obesity affects roughly 28 per cent of UK adults, with men slightly more likely to be overweight than women (ONS Health Survey for England, 2023). Pharmacists delivering weight management services — particularly in the context of GLP-1 receptor agonist prescribing for obesity — should be prepared for increasing male engagement in this area.

Practical pharmacy advice includes:

• Setting realistic targets (5–10% body weight loss produces meaningful cardiovascular benefit)
• Discussing the role of diet quality (not just calories) — particularly reducing ultra-processed food intake
• Signposting to NHS weight management programmes where available
• For men prescribed semaglutide or liraglutide, counselling on injection technique, dose titration, GI side effects and the importance of continued lifestyle changes alongside medication

Smoking cessation

Men are more likely to smoke than women in the UK (ONS, 2023). Community pharmacy stop-smoking services have strong evidence of effectiveness, with quit rates at 4 weeks consistently above 50 per cent when pharmacist-supported behavioural change is combined with NRT or varenicline.

Pharmacists should:

• Opportunistically raise smoking cessation — particularly when dispensing cardiovascular, respiratory or diabetes medicines
• Offer combination NRT (patch plus inhalator or mouth spray) as first-line for heavy smokers
• Discuss varenicline as the most effective single agent (when available — supply has been intermittent)
• Provide follow-up appointments at 1, 2 and 4 weeks

Cancer awareness

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men aged 15–49. Pharmacists can normalise self-examination conversations and ensure men know to see their GP for any new lump, swelling or change in testicular size.

Bowel cancer screening starts at 56 in England (via FIT test sent by post). Pharmacists can encourage completion of the home test kit — uptake remains below 70 per cent nationally.

Lung cancer screening is being rolled out via targeted lung health checks for people aged 55–74 with a smoking history. Pharmacists can signpost eligible patients.

Building a men's health-friendly pharmacy

Men are more likely to engage with healthcare that feels convenient, non-judgmental and direct. Pharmacies can:

• Offer consultations without advance booking
• Train counter staff to recognise when a man wants a private conversation (he may hover or ask vague questions)
• Stock OTC products for common men's health concerns visibly — hair loss, ED, prostate supplements — reducing the stigma of asking
• Run seasonal awareness campaigns (Movember, Men's Health Week in June, Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in September)

With 1,715 active pharmacy vacancies tracked by PharmSee across 11 sources, the sector continues to grow. Pharmacists interested in developing men's health expertise can explore current roles on the PharmSee job board and benchmark salaries using the salary guide.

Sources: ONS life expectancy data (2024); British Heart Foundation cardiovascular statistics (2024); NICE NG136 Hypertension in adults (2019, updated 2025); Cancer Research UK incidence statistics; NHS England community pharmacy contractor records via NHSBSA; PharmSee vacancy tracker (April 2026, n=1,715 active listings across 11 sources).