Why do Men Avoid Medical Check-ups?

I recently noticed that in discussions about planning some kind of national Health Care plan, some objections centered on the assumption that some people who might not need a Health Plan would be forced to pay for insurance - these people who do not need medical check-ups were described as younger men.

I personally know several men in their twenties, thirties who are diligent about having insurance for their automobiles and getting any suspicious symptoms checked out in order to protect their investment and make sure they won't have any undue interruption in their mobility!

Yet, many young men who are not satisfied with their physical condition - excess weight and/or discomfort with some symptoms that may be indicative of hypertension, heart, kidney, liver, or endocrine problems are reluctant to start a relationship with a physician who could help them get answers to their anxieties through appropriate tests.

Some may be justified in feeling that they don't need a physician because they generally are living a healthy lifestyle, they tend to eat a healthy diet with fruits, vegetables and whole grains,they drink alcohol moderately and they don't smoke... they participate in some kind of sport or exercise not only for the enjoyment, but also for the pleasure they get from looking and feeling fit.

Nevertheless, having an established relationship with a primary physician is a good idea even if check-ups are rare - in case of a sudden serious illness, an accident or questions about some suspicious lump, the physician would have a file with a baseline history that would probably be very helpful.

So why is it that more women than men believe that it is important to have a primary physician and timely check-ups?