The Doc Replies

Do men go through the menopause like women?

In general, a man’s hormone status doesn’t change rapidly in the way a woman’s does. Women have a spell, usually in their early 50s, when the ovaries stop producing eggs. The resultant drop in oestrogen level causes the menopause. There are symptoms associated with this. For some people, these can last for many years. Men’s hormone levels do change as they age and they also vary among patients. But men do not go through a period of change like women.

My left toenail became inflamed last year. The problem went away without treatment, but now it has returned. What could it be?

This sounds suspiciously like an ingrown toenail, which can become inflamed and occasionally lead to an infection, called paronychia. Ingrown toenails can be prevented by cutting the nail straight across without making any rounded edges. If the toe remains swollen and inflamed I would recommend seeing your GP or a podiatrist for some advice as it may well be infected.

My son has receding hair, but he’s only 20. His grandfather went bald quite early – but I wanted to ask if it could be a sign of another health problem.

If your son’s hair is receding it is likely that he has male pattern baldness, which tends to be genetic in nature. Other conditions which can cause hair loss include iron-deficiency anaemia. But from your letter this doesn’t tend to be in the same pattern as receding hair loss. Your GP will be able to assist you further and discover if any other investigation is required.

Unfortunately the Doc can’t directly respond to each query, or guarantee a reply. When in doubt contact your own GP