Men’s health

Men’s Health Issues

Men in New Zealand die on average four to five years younger than women. They are significantly less likely to visit a doctor, less likely to discuss health concerns, and more likely to present with serious conditions that could have been addressed earlier. That is a pattern, not an inevitability.

Mark Webster's integrative approach to men's health starts with a thorough 60-minute consultation that covers ground a standard GP appointment simply cannot. He looks at testosterone, thyroid, cardiovascular risk, metabolic health, gut function, sleep, stress, nutrition, and medication profile together, as a connected picture rather than isolated measurements.

The goal is not to manage your numbers. It is to understand what is driving them and do something about it.

Consultations are available in-person at the Stay Well Clinic in Hornby, Christchurch, or via Zoom anywhere in New Zealand. Evening appointments are available every Thursday, so you have no excuse not to book.

Testosterone and male hormonal health

Testosterone deficiency in men is significantly more common than is generally recognised. Recent research suggests that around 40% of men over 45 presenting to primary care have testosterone levels below the optimal range. Fatigue, reduced libido, difficulty maintaining muscle mass, increased abdominal weight, low mood, poor concentration, and reduced drive are among the most common presentations, and are frequently attributed to ageing rather than investigated.

Testosterone does not decline in isolation. It is part of a broader hormonal and metabolic picture that includes insulin sensitivity, cortisol, thyroid function, and the relationship between oestradiol and testosterone. Insulin resistance is one of the most common drivers of low testosterone in men and is directly addressable through dietary and lifestyle intervention. Obesity, sleep apnoea, chronic stress, and nutritional deficiencies in zinc, magnesium, and vitamin D all affect testosterone production.

Mark will assess the full hormonal picture, not just a single testosterone measurement. He will look at free testosterone as well as total testosterone, alongside SHBG, LH, FSH, oestradiol, and the metabolic and nutritional factors affecting production. Where testosterone replacement therapy is clinically appropriate, he will support that discussion with your GP with an evidence-informed view of the options. Where lifestyle and nutritional interventions can improve testosterone levels, he will build a specific plan.

Symptoms that may indicate testosterone deficiency:

• Persistent fatigue and low energy, particularly in the morning

• Reduced libido and sexual function

• Difficulty building or maintaining muscle despite exercise

• Increased abdominal weight gain

• Low mood, irritability, or reduced drive

• Brain fog and difficulty concentrating

• Reduced bone density

• Disrupted sleep

Prostate health

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in New Zealand men, and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, an enlarged prostate) affects the majority of men over 50 to some degree. Both conditions have significant nutritional and lifestyle components that are rarely discussed in a standard GP appointment.

Prostate health is directly influenced by hormonal balance, particularly the ratio of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and to oestradiol. It is also affected by chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, zinc status (the prostate has the highest zinc concentration of any tissue in the body), and dietary factors. Several specific nutritional and herbal compounds have a meaningful evidence base for supporting prostate health, including lycopene, selenium, saw palmetto, and specific forms of zinc.

Mark can advise on a prostate health assessment that goes beyond PSA monitoring, addressing the dietary, nutritional, and lifestyle factors that support long-term prostate function. If you have been diagnosed with BPH and are managing symptoms, or if you have a family history of prostate cancer and want to understand what preventive steps are evidence-based, a consultation with Mark is a logical step.

Mark works alongside your GP and specialist and will not advise against appropriate medical monitoring or treatment. His role is to add an integrative layer to your existing care, not to replace it.

Erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction affects a significant proportion of New Zealand men and is among the most under-discussed health issues in a GP setting. Most men who raise it are offered a prescription. Few are offered an investigation into what is driving it.

Erectile dysfunction is now recognised as an early warning sign of cardiovascular disease in some men. The blood vessels supplying the penis are smaller than coronary arteries and show the effects of vascular damage sooner, meaning ED can appear years before a cardiovascular event. It is also closely associated with testosterone deficiency, insulin resistance, sleep apnoea, high blood pressure, elevated cortisol from chronic stress, and several commonly prescribed medications.

Mark will take a thorough history of your sexual health alongside your full metabolic, hormonal, cardiovascular, and medication profile. His goal is to identify the primary driver and address it. In many cases, improving insulin sensitivity, testosterone levels, cardiovascular health, and sleep quality produces significant improvement in erectile function. Where medications are contributing (antidepressants, antihypertensives, and several other commonly prescribed drugs are known to affect erectile function), Mark can advise on options to raise with your prescriber.

All consultations are completely confidential. Zoom appointments are available if you prefer the privacy of a remote consultation.

Cardiovascular and metabolic health

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in New Zealand men. The standard approach, managing blood pressure and cholesterol with medication, treats the measurement without addressing the underlying metabolic, inflammatory, and nutritional drivers that are causing the problem.

Mark's integrative approach to cardiovascular and metabolic health investigates what is actually driving your numbers. Elevated blood pressure may be driven by magnesium deficiency, insulin resistance, chronic stress and cortisol elevation, sleep apnoea, or excess sodium relative to potassium. Elevated cholesterol is often driven by metabolic syndrome, thyroid dysfunction, or dietary pattern, rather than requiring lifelong statin use without further investigation.

He will review your existing blood test results and identify any gaps in the standard panel. He will look at inflammatory markers, homocysteine, fasting insulin, and nutritional factors that are rarely included in routine testing but have significant cardiovascular relevance. He will also review any cardiovascular medications you are on, as many deplete specific nutrients as side effects, including CoQ10 (depleted by statins) and magnesium (depleted by many antihypertensives), and addressing these depletions often improves both medication effectiveness and overall energy.

Read more on the cardiovascular health page…

Energy, sleep, and mental health

Persistent tiredness, disrupted sleep, low mood, anxiety, and a general sense of running below capacity are among the most common presentations in Mark's consultation practice, and among those most often dismissed as stress or ageing.

In men, these presentations frequently have a hormonal, nutritional, or metabolic driver. Testosterone deficiency, thyroid dysfunction, adrenal dysregulation from chronic stress, sleep apnoea, insulin resistance, and deficiencies in B vitamins, magnesium, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids all have direct effects on energy, sleep, and mood. Many men on antidepressants have never had these factors assessed.

Mark will take a full history of your energy and mood patterns, sleep quality, stress load, dietary intake, and medication profile. His integrative approach looks for the biochemical and nutritional factors that are limiting your recovery, and addresses them in a way that complements any existing treatment rather than conflicting with it.

Male fertility

Male factor issues contribute to approximately half of all fertility challenges for couples, yet the male partner is less likely to seek assessment and far less likely to receive nutritional or integrative support.

Sperm health, motility, and morphology are directly affected by oxidative stress, nutritional status, heat exposure, alcohol and tobacco use, and several prescription medications. Antioxidant nutrients including CoQ10, zinc, selenium, vitamin C, and vitamin E have a solid evidence base for supporting sperm quality. Testosterone deficiency affects sperm production. Varicocele, a common but often undiagnosed condition, significantly impairs sperm quality and can be addressed.

If you and your partner are planning a pregnancy or have been trying without success, a preconception consultation for the male partner is genuinely valuable and significantly underutilised. Mark will assess the nutritional and hormonal factors affecting male fertility and build a specific supplementation and lifestyle plan.

Why hormonal issues are often missed

Standard hormonal blood tests measure hormone levels at a single point in time, and the reference ranges used are broad. A result within the normal range does not mean hormones are optimally balanced, particularly when symptoms are significant.

Mark looks beyond single hormone measurements to assess hormonal ratios, the relationship between male hormones, and the nutritional and lifestyle factors that drive hormonal production and clearance. He also considers the role of gut health in hormonal balance.