On "Embarrassing Bodies - Down Under" last night there was a fellow who 6 months previously had 'fractured' his penis whilst having sex. He said that at the time he heard a snap, then the next day it was black and bent out of shape (he took a photo which we were shown). Now when his penis is erect the head is out of alignment with the shaft, making penetration difficult. His consultation with the Embarrassing Bodies GP was the first medical attention he had sought for the problem. He said he didn't even consider going to the hospital or to a doctor after it happened, he thought he just had to live with the pain, although now he thinks that he probably should have seen someone after 2 or 3 days when it didn't get better. The Embarrassing Bodies GP sent him to a urologist, who explained that if he had sought treatment immediately after it happened, surgery could have been performed on his penis. However due to the time that had elapsed, surgery now would have disadvantages that would most likely outweigh any benefit. Basically, he now has to live with a bent penis and the associated implications for penetrative sex.My father hates seeing medical professionals for any reason and actively avoids doing so save for very limited circumstances. A few years ago he was in an accident on his motorbike and landed very heavily on his shoulder. He refused to go to the hospital for any scans, and went for another week in severe pain and unable to work until mum and I practically forced him to see a GP. Turned out he had 3 partial to full thickness tears in his rotator cuff, for which he ended up having surgery including removal of part of the biceps muscle. If he wasn't required to have an annual physical as part of his employment, we would never have found out about his high blood pressure and he would perhaps have already suffered a heart attack or stroke. It doesn't matter how sick he feels, he will not visit a doctor even just to rule out any of the more serious possible causes (he is a prime candidate for type 2 diabetes).These stories of men refusing to seek medical attention until they are practically at death's door, are very common. And regular checkups / screening - forget it!! Which partly explains why women in general have higher life expectancies and better health outcomes than men do.So guys, what is behind this reluctance?? Is it part of trying to maintain a 'tough guy' image? Is it a fear of finding out that there is something more seriously wrong? Let's hear the reasons!!
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