Helpful tips to getting your partner to go to the doctor

How to convey the importance of routine healthcare to your partner

But the biggest hurdle for many loving partners is to convince their counterpart that they still need regular check-ups and preventive services even if they feel “fine.” So what’s the first step in breaking through that commonly-held belief that healthcare is solely reserved for those who are sick? According to Rohatsch, emphasizing the absolute necessity of routine screenings and regular tests is a helpful starting point.

“Many types of cancer in men are treatable if caught early, but the tricky part is that early stages of cancer are often symptom free,” Rohatsch says. “So it's the screening tests that really do the trick, because we are looking for something that has not caused any physiological derangement yet. Colon cancer is one of the most preventable cancers in the world — with proper screening.”

Tips for starting the conversation

Initiating a conversation around a partner’s health can be tricky — particularly if that partner insists they’re perfectly fine. But every person, of every age, gender, sexual orientation, etc. requires routine care and conversation with a health professional who is compassionate, informed, and empathetic. While broaching the topic can pose some challenges, Rohatsch says there are a few simple strategies to sidestep confrontation and minimize the risk of anger, defensiveness, or anxiety. “Start with ‘I care about you,’” he says. “Set the stage with facts. Most cancers are preventable, but asymptomatic early on. And offer to go to the appointment with your partner since this can be a scary time.”

If you need some more actionable steps, the team at Solv has compiled a list of ideas to help convince your partner to make that healthcare appointment:

• Lead by example. Share the ways you prioritize your health and the reasons why you make well-being a focus of your energy.  
• Present them with all the facts. It’s understandable that some men might have fear or anxiety around seeking care or even scheduling standard screenings. But Rohatsch says becoming educated about the importance of these preventive services and what they truly entail can go a long way in keeping men of all ages as healthy as possible for as long as possible. “Many men would rather avoid a colonoscopy or digital rectal exam if they can, but these are painless procedures that can catch colon cancer early and prevent premature death,” he says. “Men often don't know how prevalent prostate cancer is: each year over a quarter million men get prostate cancer and approximately 35,000 die.”
• Help them find a provider they trust. If your partner doesn’t have a provider they trust, offer to help them find one. Or suggest they take the first step by getting something that’s been bugging them handled via Solv, which offers in-person and video visit services in over 40 states. This can help them start taking control of their health and empower them to take further action if necessary.