Cleary et al (1982) examined why women go the the doctor more frequently than men. Contrary to the (almost comically outdated) suggestion that women had more flexibility of schedule (not having to take time off from work) during which to go to the doctor, or the possibility that women would seek help more readily than men, Cleary et al's analysis found that women had more health concerns, with chronic disease and childbirth explaining 80% of the gender difference. However, Pope and Green (1999) found that even controlling for social and health concerns, and excluding sex-specific treatments, gender was still a significant predictor of physician visits. Xu and Borders (2002) found that women were more affected by financial barriers to health care than men were. The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (2005) found that 19.3% of men were uninsured, compared to 15.2% of women, but that more men than women were covered by private insurance.

The data that women go to the doctor more often than men are irrefutable, but the reasons are obviously multifaceted. Women may be more likely to seek help, but men tend to have more money. Another explanation may be tied to women's increased likelihood of being a child's caregiver. Women may have increased exposure by being around children (their own, and others) more often than men.

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I certainly seem to go to the doctor more often since my transition than before, but that's largely related to my transition. Being on testosterone, I have to be more careful about the health of my liver and watch my cholesterol levels more carefully. I also have an entire system of organs (reproductive) that are currently shut down, and must be monitored to make sure that nothing goes wrong before I have the financial means to remove them. On the other hand, I had already developed the habit of seeing a doctor, and it appears to me that the habit is the biggest issue (after financial restraints). I think men are creatures of routine, and once the habit of getting a checkup is established, it's fairly easy to maintain.