Building Trust in Men’s Health: Dr. Nathan Starke on Why Authenticity Beats Medical Jargon

When Dr. Nathan Starke talks to his patients, he doesn’t sound like he’s straight from a textbook. He speaks with them like a real person having a real conversation, and that’s exactly the point.

From his residency in Dallas to his andrology fellowship in Virginia to his role as former director of the Houston Methodist Men’s Health Center, Dr. Starke has observed one universal truth about men’s health: men are more likely to seek help for sensitive health issues when their doctor speaks their language. Not medical jargon. Not scientific terminology that requires translation. Just straightforward, honest communication.

“I’ve always kind of had a way of connecting with men on a real level,” Dr. Starke explains. “I’m talking to patients the same way I’d talk to any other guy who needs help or advice. People appreciate that. They like it when you level with them and act like a normal person.”

The Communication Gap in Men’s Health

Communication might be the primary driver behind the stigma of men’s health. Many men may feel embarrassed discussing erectile dysfunction, low testosterone, fertility concerns, or urinary problems.

Traditional medical communication can create distance between doctor and patient. Complex terminology, clinical detachment, and formal language can make already uncomfortable topics feel even more daunting. For men who are already reluctant to seek care, this communication style becomes another obstacle to overcome.

Dr. Starke recognized this gap early in his career. After completing his urology residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and an andrology fellowship at the University of Virginia, he understood the science inside and out. But he also understood something equally important: technical expertise means nothing if patients don’t feel comfortable enough to be honest about their symptoms.

Why Authenticity Matters

The power of authentic communication in healthcare cannot be overstated. When patients feel they can speak openly without judgment, they’re more likely to share complete information about their symptoms, medical history, and concerns. This leads to more accurate diagnoses and more effective treatment plans.

Dr. Starke’s approach isn’t about dumbing down medical information. It’s about making it accessible and relatable. He explains complex conditions in terms that make sense to people’s everyday lives, removing the mystique around topics that affect quality of life but don’t need to feel intimidating.

This communication style is especially crucial in men’s health. When Nathan Starke addresses low testosterone, erectile dysfunction, or male infertility, he’s mindful of the fact that these topics carry emotional weight. They touch on masculinity, relationships, and self-esteem. A doctor who can discuss these topics in a straightforward, judgment-free way creates space for honest dialogue. Perhaps MOST crucial is Starke’s willingness to be appropriately vulnerable with his patients at certain times, revealing when he himself has struggled with problems similar to that of the patient, and empathize and discuss how those problems feel to the man who experiences them.

“Helping men with male-specific problems and really improving the quality of life—urination, making babies, sexual function with their partners—is extremely gratifying,” Dr. Starke says.

The Real-World Impact

The benefits of this communication approach extend beyond individual appointments. When men have positive experiences discussing sensitive health topics with their doctors, they’re more likely to return for follow-up care, adhere to treatment plans, and recommend their doctor to others facing similar issues.

Dr. Starke emphasizes that many men’s health issues are not only treatable but also often straightforward to address once properly diagnosed. Low testosterone can be managed with hormone replacement therapy. Erectile dysfunction often responds well to lifestyle changes or medication. Male infertility has multiple treatment options depending on the underlying cause.

The challenge isn’t usually the treatment itself—it’s getting men through the door in the first place, and then getting them to be forthcoming about their symptoms.

“I think an awareness that almost any male-specific issue—be it urination, sexual, or hormonal—is at minimum addressable, if not fixable, is worthwhile,” Dr. Starke notes. “And then overcoming the stigma of it. A lot of guys, even if they know they have an erection problem, just kind of don’t want to talk about it, don’t want to deal with it, because it makes them feel like less of a man.”

Breaking Down Cultural Barriers

Dr. Starke’s direct communication style has proven particularly effective with diverse patient populations. As a bilingual physician fluent in Spanish, he’s observed how cultural factors can amplify the reluctance men feel about discussing health concerns.

Working with Houston’s Latino population, he encountered additional barriers when talking about sensitive subjects, as typified by the latin concept of “machismo”– that men must feel, and act, and be manly at all times. Which is just not a realistic expectation for any man to have for himself for every moment of his adult life.

“Being able to talk to them in their own language and meeting them exactly where they are—the way you’d talk to a close friend or brother about sensitive stuff—helped very much in opening the communication and ultimately getting them what they needed to make their life better,” he explains.

Communicating Beyond the Chart: Nathan Starke’s Approach

The medical field is slowly recognizing what effective clinicians have always known: the doctor-patient relationship can be therapeutic in itself. How doctors communicate affects patient outcomes, compliance, and satisfaction. In men’s health, particularly, where shame and stigma often prevent men from seeking care, the ability to create a comfortable, judgment-free environment can be the difference between treatment and continued suffering.

Dr. Starke’s message to men struggling with urological issues or sexual health problems is clear and consistent: these problems are common, they’re usually treatable, and there’s no reason to suffer in silence. Finding a doctor who communicates in a way that makes sense to you is a crucial first step.

“We do this all the time,” he says. “We’re going to make an uncomfortable topic easier to talk about.”

That simple reassurance might be exactly what gets someone through the door and on the path to better health.