Men are 24% less likely to get an annual checkup than women.
Mayo Clinic doctors weigh in on this gap, and why they hope more men will show up for recommended visits.
Men are 24% less likely than women to get their annual checkup. Mayo Clinic experts weigh in on why.
Stephen Kopecky, M.D., Cardiology: Oh, that's easy. If men can ignore a symptom or an illness, then they don't have it. I'm seeing more and more women act that way, too, now. That's not the best way to prevent a disease.
Shanda Blackmon, M.D., M.P.H., Professor of Surgery: I think men are very uncomfortable putting themselves in a vulnerable position. And I think a lot of that has to do with trust and trusting their health care provider.
Dr. Kopecky: We all have fear. And the biggest fear is the fear of the unknown. Talk to the doctor, the nurse, and just talk about what's going on. All we're going to do is talk. And so don't be afraid of that.
Ekta Kapoor, M.B.B.S., Mayo Clinic Center for Women's Health: Oh boy, that's a hard one, isn't it? Because I think more than anything it comes from mindsets. And those, as you know, can be hard to change.
Katharine Price, M.D., Oncology: Things are much easier to prevent and much easier to treat when you find them early. Doctors are not here necessarily only for when you're sick, but they're also part of, you know, keeping you well.
Arman Arghami, M.D., M.P.H., Cardiovascular Surgery: Men believe that they're tough and they're responsible for their entire family. If you're not healthy, you can't take care of your own family, so watching after your own health is important.
Get expert health tips delivered daily when you download the Mayo Clinic App.