Skip To Main Content

Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
For more information on how we test products, click here.

An artificial hand holding a cactus plant

10 Common Men’s Health Myths Debunked

In Partnership with Vault Health

From the ultra-serious to the not-so-serious, we’re debunking some of the most popular men’s health myths. Hopefully, it will open your eyes to new ideas, or maybe even prompt you to make different lifestyle choices. Are you wondering if the modern man bun leads to hair loss? Or if erectile dysfunction only applies to older males? We cover all that and more and even offer a few potential solutions. Here are common men’s health myths explored, examined, and debunked.

1. Myth: Your Testerone Levels Are Fine if Your Doctor Doesn’t Mention Them

As you may or may not be aware, your body starts producing testosterone in your testicles when you reach puberty. A male sex hormone, it sends out body signals to aid with your sexual development and maturity. However, in most men, testosterone levels (T levels) begin to decline after the age of 30.

All the while, your doctor isn’t necessarily checking your T levels. Even if you begin to exhibit signs of testosterone deficiency (ED, mood swings, slow metabolism, etc), your doctor might not think that a low T count is to blame. As a direct result, you can end up suffering from a treatable condition that you didn’t even know you had.

Maintaining a healthy T count delivers a host of adjoining benefits, including stronger libido (i.e. sex drive). If you want to learn more about testosterone replacement therapy, Vault Health has you covered. Check out their proven treatment plans to get back in that proverbial saddle.

2. Myth: Man Buns and Hats Lead to Hair Loss

While even some experts suggest that pulling on the roots of your hair can lead to follicular damage or male pattern baldness, there’s no actual science to back up that claim. This presumably means you can safely rock a man bun or wear a hat without going bald. And if you do happen to develop a receding hairline, blame your DNA as that’s easily the most predominant cause (followed by malnutrition).

3. Myth: Weaker Erections aren’t a Sign of ED

ED stands for “erectile dysfunction” and the condition takes more forms than you might think. Yes, it namely pertains to one’s inability to achieve or maintain an erection, but it can also denote erections that simply aren’t as strong as they used to be. Potential causes range from poor diet to testosterone deficiency to unhealthy lifestyle choices and more.

Should you be suffering from any form of ED, check out the Vault Health Sex Kit. To qualify for the treatment, you’ll need to consult with one of the brand’s medical professionals through an online telehealth portal. Medications are shipped straight to your door and support is ongoing.

4. Myth: It’s Impossible to Boost Hormone Levels in a Safe Manner

Taking supplemental growth hormones does come with risks, but it’s not the only way to boost your hormone levels. Using peptides makes for a safer alternative and one that’s likewise effective. Peptides work by signaling molecules in tandem with the brain’s regular patterns to increase hormone production. Potential benefits include increased energy levels and better metabolism, amongst other things. Check out the Vault Health Body Kit for more information on peptide-based hormone treatments.

5. Myth: Men’s Health Has No Effect on Reproduction

We’re sorry to bring you the bad news, but the health of your sperm can definitely affect the health of your baby. If you smoke, drink alcohol to excess, have a sexually-transmitted infection, use steroids, inhale harmful chemicals, or expose your testicles to extreme heat for prolonged periods of time, it can potentially prevent your body from producing healthy sperm. Along similar lines, older men are less likely to produce healthier sperm than younger men.

If you’re planning to have a baby, you should cut down on certain vices or hazards for about three months beforehand. You want Olympic-grade swimmers and not tiny slackers lounging around the pool on float tubes.

6. Myth: Cognitive Decline is Inevitable as You Age and Cannot Be Prevented

Some men assume that things like memory loss, inability to focus, and cognitive decline are mere facts of life, which can neither be avoided nor prevented over time. While your mental faculties will likely lose some of their lustre as you age, there are still plenty of ways to slow down the process.

One of those ways is through the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). According to research, BDNF helps reduce the negative impact of things like cortisol, which often comes as a result of chronic stress.

A crucial peptide called semax works to increase BDNF and as you just discovered, increased amounts of BDNF can ward off cognitive decline. Check out the Vault Health Brain Kit to learn more about semax and to see if you can benefit from this particular treatment.

7. Myth: Men Can’t Suffer from Breast Cancer

Here’s a debunked health myth that no man wants to hear. As if all the other potential cancers weren’t enough to worry about, it turns out that men can get breast cancer as well. Just like women, they have breast tissue, albeit less of it. Accordingly, far fewer men suffer from the disease on an annual basis. Nevertheless, make it a habit to look for warning signs such as a lump in the underarm or chest area, sudden fluctuation in breast size, or a rash in the nipple area.

8. Myth: ED Only Affects Much Older Men

According to recent studies, 52% of men between the ages of 40 and 70 suffer from some form of erectile dysfunction (ED). The condition can be brought on by stress, drug or alcohol use, psychological factors, smoking, underlying medical conditions, and other potential causes. It’s also safe to assume that a number of much younger men may experience ED as well.

No matter what your age, something like the Vault Health Sex Kit might be right up your alley if you’re experiencing ED. To reiterate, the company puts you in touch with a medical professional by way of telehealth portal. The resulting treatment plan is customised to meet your exact needs and shipped straight to your door in a discreet manner.

9. Myth: Hot Tubs and Tight Underwear Lead to Sterility

We suggested above that exposing your testicles to extreme heat for prolonged periods of time could have a negative effect on sperm production. The key term there was “prolonged periods of time,” whereas normal exposure (hot laptops, hot tubs) present minimal risk.

Then we have the famous “tighty whities” myth, which suggests that tight-fitting underwear will harm sperm production. There are no studies backing up this claim. If anything, research has shown that your choice of undergarments has no bearing on your fertility.

10. Myth: You Need to Drink Protein Shakes to Build Muscle

Protein shakes are a supplement and that means they should be used to fill in certain nutrition or fitness gaps. If you’re already getting enough protein in your diet, then there’s theoretically no need to drink a supplemental shake.

On a related note, too much protein is a thing and a potentially harmful thing at that, as it can lead to weight gain, constipation, kidney damage, and other negative outcomes.

Last but not least, all the protein in the world won’t do you a lick of good if you’re not practising a regular workout routine. That means cardio and strength training alike, with or without the protein shake.

Check out Vault Health

All content and media on the Man of Many website is created and published online for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.

General FAQ

What are some common men’s health myths?

Some of the most common men’s health myths are that wearing a hat leads to hair loss, sitting in a hot tub can damage your sperm, and that cognitive decline is unavoidable as you age.

Will wearing tight underwear kill your sperm?

According to research, there is no direct correlation between tight underwear and a low sperm count.

Do man buns lead to hair loss?

According to the latest research, rocking a man bun will not lead to male pattern baldness.