What makes men talk about health?

This paper compares two research projects which explored men's beliefs abou t their health. The concern of the paper is not with the findings themselve s, but with the methodological issues concerned, in particular, the issue o f interview men about health. The paper first discusses relevant issues fro m the literature concerning gender and interviewing. It then goes on to des cribe the two research projects, both of which involved interviews with men , firstly about health in general, and secondly with men who had had a hear t attack. The experience of the researcher in each project was quite differ ent, and the paper discusses possible reasons for this, including the part played by gender. It concludes by suggesting reasons for men talking, or no t talking, about health the way they do.