Why isn't there's a Men's Health NP specialty

[ThatPoshGirl]

I'm interested in eventually becoming a Nurse Practitioner. I've noticed that men's health does not seem to be covered in the specialty areas of Nurse Practitioners. Has anyone ever wondered why that is?

[suanna]

Supply/Demand. Guys don't get sick or need preventative care do they? So why would you need a mens' health practitioner. The only time you will get a guy to see a doctor is when his male member is acting up -then you have urologists, or they are on deaths door= intensivist, cardiologist, oncologist. No guy I know would make an appt. with the NP for mens health.

[dcfree]

Actually, you are mistaken. Most research has not been geared towards men, but was research in general. Gender specific research has largely been focused on women since the practice of gender specific studies came into vogue in the 70s and 80s. For example despite the same incidence of breast cancer and prostate cancer, breast cancer gets more than 4 times the funding. If you want more information on men's health to clarify this issue, go to the Men's Health Network. Here is a link to some good information on their site..... http://www.menshealthnetwork.org/library/menshealthfacts.pdf

Cheers,

David RN, BA, BScN