For the next 30 days wives, sisters, daughters and girlfriends will turn a blind eye as their loved ones grow and groom facial fuzz sproutings for ``Movember''.

And as ugly as this month may get, I for one am quite happy to put up with the extra hair (and the chunks of food it may catch) if it means that the men I love are thinking more about their health.

Recent studies reveal men are less likely to visit a doctor than women yet they are three times more likely to die of coronary heart disease or commit suicide and twice as likely to die of skin cancer.

So why don't they like to see a doctor? Maybe they're too tough, or too careful with their money?

Women, on the other hand, will visit the doctor regularly to be poked, prodded and examined and will even request to be jabbed with a needle to find out why they feel tired or run down.

The truth is that visiting the doctor for regular check-ups has become more important than ever.

We are told time and time again that early detection of things such as cancer or heart disease is crucial for survival.

That's why Movember is so important. Not just to raise money, but to get men thinking about their health and the steps they can take to make sure they live a long and healthy life.

The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia says close to 3000 men die of prostate cancer and another 32 cases are diagnosed every day in this country.

That's the same as the number of women dying each year of breast cancer.

And while early, curable prostate cancer may not have symptoms, a simple test by the doctor can detect it. It's for that reason that men need to put aside their fears and have regular check-ups to make sure they don't become a statistic.

And if statistics don't scare them then maybe the increasing number of dirty, long moustaches appearing in our shire will.

Share your Movember plans and photos. Email mfenech@fairfaxmedia.com.au