Movember: Urological Prevention and Health Checks Across Ages
Men often overlook urological health checks until symptoms appear, even though medical needs shift across different stages of life, Gazzetta Active reported. November brings the international Movember movement, drawing attention to testicular cancer, prostate cancer, and mental health before problems arise. Professor Luca Carmignani, head of the urology unit at the IRCCS Galeazzi-Sant’Ambrogio hospital in Milan, detailed the most frequent urological conditions and prevention steps for different age groups to Gazzetta Active.
- Urological cancers account for 20 percent of new cancer diagnoses, totaling 87,000 new cases in Italy in 2025, according to ForlìToday.
- Campaigns running through November 2026 divide health education into specific age brackets—18 to 30, 30 to 50, and over 50—covering reproductive health, fertility, and bone density.
- Screening initiatives offer discounted prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests and consultations in municipal pharmacies across participating Italian towns.
Italy Structures Men Health Messaging Around Three Life Stages
Initiatives across Italy structure their health messaging around three distinct life stages. For men aged 18 to 30, campaigns focus on testicular health, sexually transmitted infections, and fertility awareness. Carlo Foresta, president of the Fondazione Foresta ETS, stated that fertility requires attention long before men plan to become fathers, and sexual health must be protected throughout life, including in old age.
For men over 50, the risk profile shifts toward prostate conditions and systemic health changes. Urological and genital cancers—affecting the testicles, bladder, and prostate—remain prevalent. To catch these conditions early, Forlifarma joined the local Movèmbar campaign in Forlì and Forlimpopoli by organizing PSA testing days in municipal pharmacies. Every Saturday through November, a rotating pharmacy offers the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test with a professional nurse for 9.90 euros with a 30 percent discount; the test is aimed particularly at people aged 50 to 69.
Local Organizations Move Prevention Campaigns into Sports Stadiums
Local organizations are moving prevention campaigns out of clinical offices and into sports stadiums. The Fondazione Foresta ETS partnered with sports teams including Calcio Padova, Umana Reyer Venezia, and Delta Volley Porto Viro, using the slogan Ci vogliono le palle per giocare d’anticipo
to reach men during matches and across social media channels, PadovaOggi reported.
In Forlì, community pharmacies scheduled screening days with appointments and designated phone contacts. Testing is set at the Farmacia Comunale De Calboli on November 7, the Zona Iva pharmacy on November 14, and the Ospedaletto pharmacy on November 21. An additional session will take place on Thursday, November 19, for International Men’s Day, running at the Forlimpopoli municipal pharmacy and the Piazza Erbe pharmacy, where tests require only a voluntary donation instead of the standard fee. Proceeds support local groups including the Istituto Oncologico Romagnolo, Domus Coop, and Collettivo Monnalisa.
Addressing Overlooked Bone Health Risks in Older Men
Campaign organizers are also targeting secondary conditions linked to aging and hormonal shifts. The gradual reduction of testosterone can contribute to bone mass loss and male osteoporosis, a condition still widely unrecognized and untreated in men, as reported by PadovaOggi. Fragility fractures carry severe clinical consequences; within the first six months following a femur fracture, male mortality is approximately double that of women of the same age.
Beyond clinical screenings, public events aim to break cultural barriers surrounding health and mental wellbeing. The 1st Movèmbar Festival runs across three Sundays in November, featuring conferences, workshops, and the launch of a dedicated men’s listening hotline in Forlì, according to ForlìToday. Similar grassroots efforts operate nationwide, including the LILT Nastro Blu campaign, structured health talks in Turin by Mensa Italia, and the Movember Run in Morbegno, where local volunteers organize PSA checks in collaboration with LILT Sondrio at the Italian Red Cross headquarters in Morbegno.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.