JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Men (and women) manned up for men’s health this month, raising awareness to men’s health below the belt.

More than 40 people participated in Jamestown Regional Medical Center’s annual #GROWvember beard-growing competition. #GROWvember is a silly way to get the word out about a serious cause, said Dr. Robert J. Bates, JRMC’s Harvard-trained urologist. Facial hair shows you care, he said, and opens the door to conversations about below-the-belt subjects like prostates, bladders, kidneys.

Men’s health below the belt can make a person squeamish, but ignoring symptoms can have a devastating effect.

“Silence can be our worst enemy. Talking about these issues and seeing a specialist are the necessary steps to below-the-belt health,” Dr. Bates said.

In celebration of those hairy conversations — and faces — JRMC held a Stache Bash Tuesday, Nov. 27.

Award recipients included:

All about the Beard, No Stubble – Kevin Windish

Baby Beard – Brock Schrom

How Dapper – Taylor James

Best Stasch – Ben Smith

Whiskerina – Jodi Thom

Cashiest ‘Stache (most raised per category either team, individual or business)

Team: Jamestown High School

Individual: Dave Smette

Best in Show (most participants as a team) – University of Jamestown – Danny Neville

Proceeds benefited the JRMC Cancer Center.

Misinformation about men’s health issues is abundant, Dr. Bates said, in part because it’s so private.
Important questions you ‘mustache’ yourself: How often do you go to the bathroom? When you go, is it urgent? Do you have blood in your urine?

Various treatment options are available locally. Patients can self-refer, meaning they don’t have to visit their primary physician first. They can make an appointment directly at JRMC. That cuts down on embarrassing conversations, Dr. Bates said.

To learn more or donate, visit www.jrmcnd.com/GROWvember. To schedule an appointment, call JRMC Urology at (701) 952-4878.