Video: Top reasons men skip their doctor visits By Mayo Clinic Staff Share Facebook Twitter Print details Fewer men make it to their annual doctor visits than women, and it could be one reason why men live on average 5 years less than women. It's time to nip those excuses in the bud. Learn why men skip their annual checkups and how a different frame of mind can make all the difference in your risks and your longevity. Show transcript Top reasons men skip their doctor visits Men are 24% less likely than women to get their annual checkups. Here's why the most common excuses don't add up. "I'm healthy. I don't need a doctor." Some experts believe that doctor avoidance is one reason men live about 5 fewer years than women. "I can tough it out." People with "macho" attitudes are more likely to skip doctors. That's risky. "I hate getting my prostate checked." If you're young with no symptoms, you may not need to. Talk to your doctor about your risks. "I'd rather not know there's a problem." Knowledge is power. One example: When colon cancer is found early, the survival rate is 90%. "It's too expensive." A flu shot costs about $30 with no insurance. A hospital stay for the flu costs much more. "I don't have time." Spend a little time with your doctor now; save time avoiding chronic conditions later. Guidance from the cardiology and cardiovascular surgery doctors and nurses at Mayo Clinic.Get more healthy action tips delivered daily when you download the Mayo Clinic app. Show references The 10 top reasons men put off doctor visits. American Heart Association. https://www.heart.org/en/news/2021/06/15/misguided-masculinity-keeps-many-men-from-visiting-the-doctor. Accessed Sept. 30, 2024. Healthy men. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. https://archive.ahrq.gov/patients-consumers/patient-involvement/healthy-men/index.html. Accessed March 6, 2017. Springer KW, et al. "Macho men" and preventative health care: Implications for older men in different social classes. Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 2011; doi:10.1177/0022146510393972. Health screening men ages 40 to 64. Medline Plus. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007465.htm. Accessed March 6, 2017. Chronic disease…the public health challenge of the 21st century. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/museum/online/story-of-cdc/chronic/. Accessed Sept. 30, 2024. Jowsey T, et al. Time spent on health related activities associated with chronic illness: A scoping literature review. BMC Public Health. 2012; doi:10.1186/1471-2458-12-1044. Cox FM, et al. Cost of treating influenza in emergency department and hospital settings. American Journal of Managed Care. 2000;6:205. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10977420. VID-20314292