How to get men to go to the doctor: 3 tips from our doctors
August 07, 2026
- If you're having trouble getting men in your life to see a doctor, you're not alone. UT MD Anderson doctors offer tips to help.
- Use an analogy they can relate to, such as car maintenance.
- Bundle fun activities with medical visits, such as meals or movies.
- Root out the source of their misgivings, then offer solutions.
Have you ever suggested to a boyfriend, husband, brother, son or father that they go see a doctor, only to be met with resistance? If so, you¡¯re not alone.
Research shows that men tend to be more reluctant to consult a doctor than women ¡ª even when they really ought to.
Urologic oncologist , and general oncologist , explored why and discussed ways to get the men in your life to go see a doctor on UT MD Anderson¡¯s Cancerwise podcast.
Here are three strategies they shared.
Use an analogy they can relate to
Many men won¡¯t even consider going to a doctor unless something is wrong. Why? Because unlike women, who tend to seek care for reproductive health issues earlier in life, men don¡¯t really have another reason to go.
¡°Particularly for young men, the mentality is, ¡®If it ain¡¯t broke, don¡¯t fix it,¡¯¡± Ch¨¦ry says. ¡°A lot of men also have this idea that they have to tough things out. So, if something is not really bothering them, they¡¯re not going to get it addressed.¡±
To counteract this, Ch¨¦ry suggests comparing preventive health care ¡ª such as annual physicals and cancer screenings ¡ª with something men can relate to, such as car maintenance.
¡°You don¡¯t wait to take it to the shop until there¡¯s smoke coming out from under the hood,¡± Ch¨¦ry notes. ¡°Because by then, you might need a new car. Instead, you get your tires rotated, have your oil changed, and do other things periodically to keep it running well.¡±
Bundle fun activities with medical visits
You¡¯ve heard the old maxim, ¡°a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down,¡± right?
The same principle applies here. Pairing ¡°fun-to-do¡± activities with ¡°have-to-do¡± activities can sometimes make our obligations more tolerable because we know that something pleasant awaits us on the other side.
So, suggest grabbing a meal at their favorite restaurant after a doctor visit, or watching a movie they¡¯ve been wanting to see. This gives the man in your life something to look forward to, instead of just something to cross off his chore list.
¡°That can counterbalance the idea that seeing the doctor is not something they really want to do,¡± says Ch¨¦ry.
Featured Podcast:
How to get men to the doctor
Root out the source of their misgivings, then offer solutions
Know a man who¡¯s resistant to seeing a doctor? Open up a conversation about it. Ask him if there¡¯s a particular reason he¡¯s reluctant to go ¡ª because there may be a simple solution.
Here are three of the most common excuses Ch¨¦ry hears from men about why they won¡¯t go to the doctor, and what you can say to rebut them.
Excuse #1: ¡°I don¡¯t want a digital rectal exam.¡±
A lot of men are apprehensive about prostate cancer screenings because they typically involve a digital rectal exam. This requires a doctor to insert a gloved finger into their anus to actually feel the prostate gland through the wall of the rectum.
¡°Universally, men do not want this,¡± says Ch¨¦ry. ¡°Some actually fear that more than they do the cancer. But the good news is we¡¯ve shifted to a simple blood test now to get your PSA levels checked. So, you don¡¯t have to worry about that aspect of things anymore.¡±
Excuse #2: ¡°I had a bad experience.¡±
There¡¯s no doubt that having one bad experience can sour you on the idea of repeating it.
¡°But just because you go to a bad restaurant one time, you don¡¯t say, ¡®I¡¯m never eating out again,¡¯¡± notes Ch¨¦ry. ¡°You just say, ¡®I¡¯m going to try a different place next time.¡¯¡±
So, if there¡¯s a healthcare provider you just don¡¯t gel with, find another one.
¡°Don't deprive yourself,¡± says Ch¨¦ry. ¡°You¡¯re only doing yourself a disservice by not going to the doctor ever again.¡±
Excuse #3: ¡°I don¡¯t have time.¡±
Many men complain about the amount of time it takes to see a doctor. Between the travel to and from their office, the wait for an open exam room, and the visit itself, medical appointments can sometimes eat up the better part of a day.
But that¡¯s not necessarily the case anymore, thanks to telehealth and virtual visits.
¡°These visits usually take less time,¡± explains Ch¨¦ry. ¡°And you can get that first one in with a provider to talk about things.¡±
¡°You could even offer, ¡®Hey, I can make the appointment for you, if that would be easier,'¡± adds Hassan.
To hear the full conversation between Ch¨¦ry and Hassan, listen to .
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