How can I (32f) handle my fiancés (36m) lack of urgency over getting medical care?
I have been with my fiancé about 3 years. We have incredibly different backgrounds. I grew up in a privileged position where my parents always had medical care, always forced me to stay on top of things, go to the dentist every 6 months, etc. My fiancé had a very different life. His parents never took him to a dentist. Would only take him to the doctor if he was bleeding out. He is an incredibly hard worker, but his work has never provided medical versus my corporate jobs that always have. I think these differences are important to consider before judging this situation.
I am realizing that my partner is not on top of long term medical care. When we first got together he had no insurance, and a year in I got him on my insurance. He was so enthusiastic about all the care he would get. He then had to take over a business, and then his father passed away and he went through depression and grief. He did not seek any care for ongoing issues during this time, but I was very understanding of that.
Now, things have calmed down in every way. But he will not get care, and I’m starting to get really concerned. He needs to have a colonoscopy (his father died of colon cancer), but it still isn’t scheduled. This one I totally understand, I can’t imagine the fear that he must be feeling. But he needs to do it.
He has been telling me for years that he needs to get his testosterone checked. He has been depressed, unmotivated physically, and had a low libido for most of our relationship. He kept promising to get the blood test, and even got it ordered, but it’s been weeks now and he won’t go. I’m not even pushing him to get on TRT, that’s a huge personal decision, I just want him to get the blood test and at least speak with a doctor. It’s affected our lives a lot.
He has also promised to make a dental appointment, and he won’t do it. He has several teeth in really bad shape in the back of his mouth, and has had tooth infections. He is scared to go, and will likely need work done. But knowing how dangerous tooth infections are, I’m getting really nervous about his reluctance to go.
All these years I’ve thought there were external reasons why he wasn’t taking care of this stuff, but now I’m realizing even in good conditions, he is not proactive about really important parts of his health. I really don’t know what role I play here. As the man I am starting a life with, I need him to take care of himself and also need him to have integrity when he says he will do something. But it’s also not my body, and I don’t want him to feel like I’m pestering and micromanaging his health. I am starting to get really stressed on his behalf. I don’t know what to do.
Tl;Dr - my fiancé is putting off getting important medical care and it’s starting to weigh on me. What do I do?
Posted Nov 7, 2025, 6:57 PM UTC