How to get men to go to the doctor: 3 tips from our doctors
July 28, 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 — even when they really ought to.
Urologic oncologist Lisly Chéry, M.D., and general oncologist Amy Hassan, M.D., 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,’” Chéry 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, Chéry suggests comparing preventive health care — such as annual physicals and cancer screenings — 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,” Chéry 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 their chore list.
“That can counterbalance the idea that seeing the doctor is not something they really want to do,” says Chéry.
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 — because there may be a simple solution.
Here are three of the most common excuses Chéry 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 Chéry. “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 Chéry. “You just say, ‘I’m going to try a different place next time.’”
So, if there’s a healthcare provider you don’t gel with, find another one.
“Don't deprive yourself,” says Chéry. “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 Chéry. “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 Chéry and Hassan, listen to UT MD Anderson's Cancerwise podcast.
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