Why Won’t Men go to the Doctor???

“I came in to make an appointment with the dentist.” said the man to the receptionist. “I’m sorry sir.” she replied. “He’s out right now, but…” “Thank you,” interrupted the obviously nervous prospective patient. “When will he be out again?”

Why is it men refuse to go to the Doctor, dentist or whatever specialist necessary, when they are sick, until the last minute, if at all? I have been asking (ok maybe nagging) my boyfriend to go to the dentist to have his teeth checked. I don’t think I’m being unreasonable as part of his tooth noticeably broke off. Call me superficial but I really don’t want to be dating Cletus the slack-jawed-yokel (a favourite Simpson’s character). He tells me there is more work needed but I just can’t see it. So why won’t he go to the Dentist? His excuse is the money. Knowing there is a lot to be done he keeps putting it off saying it will cost a fortune. I say it’s worth it. At least have a check up and assess the damage then go from there. I think there may be a bit of fear as well (not that a man would admit it). Being scared or the fearing the consequences of an illness or problem are major reasons men avoid visiting health practitioners.

I’m at the Doctors for regular check ups and when I get really sick. I visit the Dentist twice a year (much to my dismay, I hate the Dentist he’s so mean), and I get my skin checked every year. But women are in more of a habit when it comes to check ups, as we have to do annual pap smears, breast checks, all those fun things men miss out on!  An article in the Sydney Morning Herald about”Why men don’t go to the Doctor” says men are less likely to take notice of there health and ask for help. “Research has found that men are much less likely than women to engage in preventative health screens, such as checking for testicular cancer or requesting cholesterol or blood pressure tests. Men’s diets are also poorer than women’s and they’re less likely to use sunscreen or receive vaccines and flu shots.”

Men tend to tough it out with the big stuff then end up in bed for week when they have a sniffle, with you at their beck and call (maybe that’s the plan). The article states other reasons for avoiding Dr Visits include:

• They prefer to “tough it out”, illness = weakness
• They give priority to work over rest, us women have no choice we work whilst sick especially all the mums.
• Stubborn, they don’t want to admit we are right and they do need to lose that belly or that the scab on their hand is a skin cancer, (the latter is for my boyfriend!)
• Embarrassed, after what we women go through (read previous blog on Bartholin cyst) coughing with a Doctor handling your testicles is a cinch.
• Time, lets face it men don’t like waiting. If they can’t arrive and walk straight in then they won’t go.

So it seems it’s not just me nagging my partner. The article also states many appointments are made by the mans partner or mother or they would never go, (that’s funny, I booked him in to the skin specialist next week!).  So I’m not turning into his mother merely taking over her role. Well it s a job and someone has to do it!

Posted in Men's Issues on May 27th, 2010 by Blog Admin | | 0 Comments

Boxers V Briefs

Last week I wrote about my new flatmate and the discussions I’ve had with friends about our domestic issues. This led to a conversation whilst having lunch one day about the fact that I sometimes do the washing, which of course means I touch his clothing including his underwear. Strangely enough my male friends were the ones surprised at this; Which led on to a whole conversation about underwear, men’s testicles and how it hangs etc. This intrigued me to look into the whole boxers versus briefs debate. To find what types of undies are worn more, which is more comfortable, and why all the fiddling and playing around down there?

Men’s underwear over time has become as much about fashion as comfort. When I was growing up I only remember my Dad wearing plain briefs, the type you get in a 10 pack at the local Kmart. Only after my Mum went and bought them, because as she said “the arse is hanging out of your undies”. Now we have the whole hip-hop gangster look, where your Calvin Klein (proudly displayed on the thick waistband) underwear is seen above your waistband of your jeans, which hang very loosely down around your knees. And the fact that top designers now have a huge market for underwear tells me that maybe men do care about what they’re wearing underneath. Looking at my flatmate’s underwear (clean of course) I notice he has all brand names including, Calvin, Tommy Hilfiger, Bonds, not a Rio in sight and all briefs. So I did what I always do and surveyed my male friends, they must love getting my texts asking them for personal details I then share with everyone. Of course the answers are all anonymous.

Firstly we need to cover the underwear itself, the types and styles available to men these days. I must say even I was surprised at the variety available.

• Briefs or “tighty whities” – your basic briefs, though now available in more colours and styles including those with the thick elastic waistband and sometimes designers name displayed. Some do have funny pouch things on the front, like a y front with a hole I don’t really get this as it would be easier to just drop your pants to pee then maneuver it through a hole, maybe I’m confused as to it’s use?
• Boxer Briefs (mini boxer) – the tighter fitting or boyleg style boxer.
• Boxers – many colours, materials, patterns and motives to choose from. Can display tragic and/or cute characters and jokes.
• The freeballer – those adventurous men who wear none at all.
  There are a few styles that deserve a mention, but may not be as popular for the average Aussie male.
• The thong or “g string”, best left to the male models or those participating in the Mardi Gras parade.
• Edible undies – well they have a time and place!
• Bikini briefs – best for tanned, muscular, European men who have a great body but not much of a package.

I surveyed men with ages ranging from 21 to 60. Asking do they prefer boxers or briefs? And why do they adjust themselves all the time, for comfort, to rearrange or pleasure? As always some very amusing answers, but the majority of men wore briefs, mainly for comfort and they offer support or as one put it, “boxers allow for too much movement, can’t concentrate”, and another said, “briefs keeps em in line”. The few that wore boxers mainly chose fitted over loose, again to keep the package under control. Boxers do cover up a lot and leave something to the imagination; you can’t really tell what’s in there. I read somewhere boxers tended to be for the very young or over 60’s who just let it all hang out and briefs, not always the good kind for the 30-60 year olds. I myself love a guy in tight boxer style underwear especially if they have a tight butt.

As for the always touching and moving their package around, all said it was to rearrange and that adjustment is necessary for comfort. Another classic quote, ”you try having 2 teabags between your legs”, and “men adjust for comfort we get bits sticking to each other”. Probably more information than I needed but I asked! The funniest story came from my sister whose partner is a freeballer at all times. Once his underwear fell apart he just never replaced it, he likes the freedom but still occasionally has to readjust. Being a laborer he wears shorts to work and one day on the way home on the train realized his penis was hanging out of a hole in them. Unsure what to do he left it till he got the next stop and could subtly rearrange, very funny and maybe a reason to wear underwear.

Overall briefs seem to be the winner, but it has been said that tight underwear can affect your little swimmers, apparently over heating in that area can slow your sperm down and make it harder to fall pregnant. So if your girlfriend insists you wear boxers, you know why.

Posted in Men's Issues on March 22nd, 2009 by Blog Admin | | 3 Comments