Why Men Avoid the Doctor (and What It’s Costing Them)
In her recent article for The Chronicles of Infertility, Georgia Witkin, Ph.D., issues a timely and vital wake-up call: men are still much less likely to engage with routine healthcare, and the cost is high. Here’s what the data reveals, why men continue to hold back, and what must change.
1. The Stats Speak Loudly
60% of men don’t get regular health checkups.
40% wait until symptoms become severe before seeking help.
Half of men don’t see annual checkups as necessary.
Among Gen Z, 4 in 10 men don’t even have a primary care provider.
These aren’t just numbers. They reflect the cultural, emotional, and systemic barriers that still get in the way.
2. What’s Behind the Avoidance?
Many men still believe they’re healthier than women despite having higher rates of life-limiting conditions.
There’s the pressure to appear strong, invulnerable, or “tough enough to ride it out.”
Add to that long wait times, work pressures, and embarrassment, and it’s easy to see why so many stay silent.
3. But the Cost Is Too High
Lives are lost or changed forever when warning signs are ignored or unchecked.
High-profile stories show the other side:
Quincy Jones avoided a brain aneurysm thanks to a routine scan.
David Letterman and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar caught serious issues early.
Michael J. Fox reframed diagnosis as “the beginning”, a chance to respond, not retreat.
These stories aren’t rare. They serve as reminders that routine care saves lives.
4. How We Can Change the Culture
Whether you’re a partner, friend, manager or provider, you can play a role:
Encourage openness: Talk about health like you’d talk about MOTs or gym gains.
Offer flexibility: Evening or weekend appointments remove one significant barrier.
Make it normal: Booking a checkup shouldn’t be a brave act, just part of life.
5. What Men Can Do Today
Book that overdue checkup and bring a mate if it helps.
Treat preventative care as a strength move, not a weakness.
Don’t wait for something to go wrong to take action.
Final Thought
Men’s health doesn’t need a revolution, just a shift. Less silence, more conversation. Fewer delays, more prevention. Because strength isn’t about hiding symptoms, it’s about showing up.
Read the article here: https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-chronicles-of-infertility/202507/mens-health-its-time-has-come
