Honestly, the people I know who don't go to doctors (including myself) are women. I found growing up that many (male) doctors treated me like I was a hypochondriac even though it took getting very sick for me to finally drag myself into a doctor's office.

I had pneumonia and was sent home by an arrogant male doctor who talked to me as though I was wasting my time. I had to finally go to another (also male) doctor who told me I had pneumonia and that I should have been taking antibiotics. The first arrogant male doctor told me I was making up the symptoms of a bladder infection.(He was one of my GPs as a child. One of two partners.) Again, I finally went for a second opinion because I got so sick and was treated with powerful antibiotics and took weeks to get better. This all happened when I was pretty young. Years later, I found out my sister and my mother were treated like that by the same guy. My brothers said they never had a problem. He always took them seriously and treated them right away. Neither my sister nor my mother nor I are whiners. By nature, we ignore pain and illness and just wait it out. That's what really bothers me. He treated us as though we were hysterical hypochondriacs when none of us would even go near a doctor's office until we were desperate. He wasn't the only doctor who made me feel terrible for seeking help. He's the one I remember best.

My male friends and family generally go to the doctor when they should without thinking about it. I don't think any of them have ever been made to feel stupid about making an appointment.

I still feel a profound sense of shame about going and can't bring myself to go to a doctor unless I'm desperate. I don't think I've had a general checkup in 27 years. I know that's stupid but just can't stand the thought of being examined by someone who can barely conceal their contempt for me. It might sound like I have a chip on my shoulder but I honestly don't. I've just had bad experiences that have stayed with me and when I've let logic prevail and forced myself to go when I really needed to, I've had more bad experiences. Not just with that childhood doctor, either.

It's not a matter of perception either. I mean I've had TRULY arrogant, sneering, condescending doctors who made me feel as though I had no business seeking help. I realize there are excellent doctors out there but I think I've had bad luck and it's left a deep impression of shame and fear. I honestly think that with doctors, I've just had a lot of bad luck and it's made me afraid to go.

Anyway, I know a few women who feel the same. And no men. This probably has no statistical significance. It's just my own experience. But there you have it.