PLANNED PARENTHOOD CELEBRATES NATIONAL MEN’S HEALTH WEEK

For Immediate Release: Jan. 30, 2014

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DENVER — Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains (PPRM) is celebrating National Men’s Health Week, June 15-21, by encouraging men to visit their health care provider for regular checkups and preventive screenings.

“Men are less likely than women to seek preventive health care¹, but their needs are just as important,” said PPRM President and CEO Vicki Cowart.  “Everyone – men, women and families – are feeling the impact of today’s tough economy and health care crisis.  It is crucial that men know they can turn to Planned Parenthood for affordable reproductive and basic health care.”

In 2008 PPRM saw 7,562 male clients, which represents 6 percent of its total client base.  From 2007 to 2008, PPRM saw a 22 percent increase in male clients throughout its four state region of Colorado, Wyoming, Nevada and New Mexico.  PPRM’s education programs, founded in comprehensive, medically accurate, age-appropriate sex education curricula, reached an additional 9,222men last year.

“These numbers prove that men depend on us for information and preventive health care such as testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, cholesterol and high blood pressure tests and cancer screenings,” said Cowart. 

Preventive screenings are crucial for men to protect their overall health and reproductive health.  STDs continue to pose a serious public health threat in this country and affect both sexes.  In 2006, almost three-quarters of HIV/AIDS diagnosis among adolescents and adults were males. ²According to the American Cancer Society, 8,400 new cases of testicular cancer are diagnosed each year.³

In recognition of Men’s Health Week, PPRM will be conducting community outreach activities to raise awareness for men’s health.  Planned Parenthood is committed to providing access to basic and reproductive health care for men.  PPRM offers the following affordable services to men of all ages:STD testing and treatment, colon and testicular cancer screenings, confidential HIV testing and referrals, testing and treatment for urethritis, routine screenings for cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, anemia, sickle cell anemia and tuberculosis, smoking cessation and referrals for other health issues.

 

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Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains
Since 1916, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains has been committed to providing affordable, confidential health care.  Our goal is to ensure that every individual has the information, services and freedom to make healthy, responsible decisions about their sexuality.  More than 127,000 women, men and young adults annually visit our health centers throughout Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Wyoming.  For more information about Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, call 1-800-230-PLAN or visit pprm.org for the health center nearest you.