When it comes to men’s health, the “tough it out” mentality could come at a real cost. Data suggests that men are generally less likely than women to visit their doctor. And with leading causes of death among men — such as heart disease and colorectal cancer — often developing without obvious symptoms until a more advanced stage, forgoing regular health checkups can be problematic.
That’s where routine screening plays a critical role, says Michael Richardson, MD, a family physician who specializes in men’s health at Mass General Brigham in Boston. “Early detection is what we aim for across all disease processes, because if we can catch something early, we can prevent complications from happening down the road,” Dr. Richardson says.
Men’s preventive screening guidelines shouldn’t be viewed as a one-size-fits-all rule, though. These recommendations can change with different ages and life stages, and vary based on lifestyle and family history factors. Here’s what men should know.
1. Blood Pressure Screening
A blood pressure screening uses a cuff around the upper arm to measure the force of blood through your arteries. It can be done in-office, at home, or at a pharmacy that has a blood pressure measurement machine.
This test is important because roughly half of adult men in the United States have high blood pressure (hypertension). It’s important to get your blood pressure checked because there aren’t any symptoms signaling that your blood pressure may be too high, and many people who have high blood pressure don’t know they have it. High blood pressure can increase the risk of heart disease — a leading cause of death for men in the United States.
In addition to leading to potential heart, kidney, and vision issues, a lesser-known complication of high blood pressure is its impact on your sex life, says Timothy Schuster, MD, a urologist at ProMedica in Toledo, Ohio. “Many men are surprised to learn that high blood pressure can manifest as erectile dysfunction, which happens when there’s not enough blood flow to the penis to produce an erection,” he says.
When to get it: Adults ages 18 to 39 who aren’t at risk of high blood pressure should get theirs checked at least every three to five years. Starting at age 40, it’s recommended to have this exam at least once a year. Your healthcare provider may recommend more frequent screenings if you have heart disease risk factors or a higher-than-normal blood pressure reading, Dr. Schuster adds. High blood pressure is a systolic reading (the top number) of 130 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) or higher, and a diastolic reading (the bottom number) of 80 mmHg or higher.
2. Cholesterol Panel
A cholesterol panel, or lipid profile, is a blood test that measures the levels of fats in your bloodstream.
For men 20 and older, healthy cholesterol levels are:
- Total cholesterol level of less than 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)
- LDL (or “bad”) cholesterol level of less than 100 mg/dL
- HDL (or “good”) cholesterol level of 60 mg/dL or higher
- Triglyceride level below 150 mg/dL
There typically aren’t noticeable symptoms, but having too much “bad” cholesterol or not enough “good” cholesterol — which men of all ages are more likely to experience than women — can increase the risk for heart disease.
When to get it: Guidelines recommend that most healthy adult men without known risk factors for heart disease get screenings for high cholesterol every four to six years. “For someone at average risk, once every five years can be sufficient,” Richardson says, adding that a healthcare provider may suggest screening more often if you have certain health conditions like diabetes or a family history of high cholesterol.
3. Blood Sugar Test
“From a urology standpoint, if a younger patient comes in with erection issues, we usually suggest they get screened for diabetes — along with other screenings like high blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.,” he says, noting that men with diabetes are three times more likely to have ED.
Screening for diabetes typically involves a fasting plasma glucose test to measure your blood sugar. When preparing for a fasting blood test, you usually can’t eat or drink anything other than water for up to 12 hours before the test, though your doctor will tell you the exact instructions for your test.
When to get it: Guidelines recommend that men without diabetes risk factors get screened at age 45, while those who are overweight or obese should start screening at 35. Follow-up screenings should occur every three years. If you have additional risk factors, such as high blood pressure, you may need earlier or more frequent screenings. The blood test to check for high blood sugar (glucose) is a quick process that can be done at your doctor’s office.
4. Prostate Cancer Screening
Around 13 out of every 100 men in the United States will get prostate cancer in their lifetime, and roughly 2 to 3 out of every 100 men will die from the disease. All men are at risk for prostate cancer, and the chances of getting it increase with age and other factors, like a family history of the condition.
The goal of prostate cancer screening — which involves a blood test measuring prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels — is to detect cancers before they spread. But most prostate cancers grow slowly, and some may not grow at all — which can make treatment unnecessary in some cases.
Because of this, recommendations for how often and in whom to screen for this disease have changed in recent years, Schuster says. “The reasoning is twofold: one, there’s a lot of false positives, as you can have elevated PSA levels for many reasons other than cancer; and two, prostate cancer isn’t always deadly,” he explains.
When to get it: With this in mind, experts suggest that men ages 55 to 69 discuss the pros and cons of screening with their healthcare provider, then screen accordingly. Men younger than 55 generally won’t require screening unless there’s a risk factor like family history of prostate cancer. Men age 70 and older can skip this screening altogether.
5. Colorectal Cancer Test
Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths for men in the United States.
And recent data suggests it’s now the leading cause of cancer death in men younger than 50.
Increased alcohol consumption or obesity may play a role, but experts are still looking into the exact reasons behind this alarming trend. In the meantime, regular screening is advised.
Several types of screening tests are available, each with its own recommended follow-up timing. Stool-based tests are recommended every one or three years, depending on the test. Visual exams, like a colonoscopy, are recommended every 10 years, and virtual colonoscopies every 5 years.
“Colorectal cancer screenings are incredibly important because this is one of the cancers we can catch early, prevent, and treat before it causes any issues,” says Richardson. “That’s why it’s important to have discussions with your doctor early on so you know the right screening schedule for you.”
When to get it: Most men age 45 to 75 should get regular colorectal cancer screenings, which are repeated every one to 10 years, depending on the type of test. You may need to be tested earlier or more often if you have a higher risk for the disease because of your personal or family history, a genetic condition, or an inflammatory bowel disease. Men older than 75 should talk to their healthcare provider about whether or not to get screened.
6. Lung Cancer Screening
Lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the United States — and men have higher rates of getting it and dying from it than women. Both people who smoke and those who don’t smoke are at risk of getting lung cancer — though data suggests this risk is higher for smokers and Black men. Lung cancer screening is designed to catch this cancer early, before symptoms like a persistent cough or chest pain appear — but it’s not for everyone. To screen for lung cancer, doctors perform a low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan, which provides detailed imaging of the lungs. In high-risk populations, the screening has been shown to reduce lung cancer mortality by 20 percent or more.
“Lung cancer screening is not recommended for the average person and is really reserved for higher-risk individuals — such as smokers, particularly those with more than a 20 pack-year history, as well as anyone with certain exposures, like firefighters exposed to smoke inhalation or specific factory workers,” explains Richardson.
When to get it: Men between ages 50 and 80 who are also current or former heavy smokers should undergo yearly lung-cancer screening.
7. Skin Cancer Screening
Skin cancer can be caught early, when it’s easier to treat, if you screen your skin regularly. While anyone can develop skin cancer, men have higher rates of melanoma (the deadliest form), which experts say may be due in part to less-frequent skin cancer screenings and lower use of sunscreen.
Skin cancer screening involves a visual exam of your skin as your doctor looks over your moles, freckles, and other spots, checking for any unusual or concerning irregularities.
When to get it: Schuster says that even though there aren’t official guidelines on skin cancer detection, a skin screening can be done by your doctor during an annual physical. Your healthcare provider may make suggestions on how often to have an in-office skin exam if you have risk factors like a family or personal history of skin cancer or a weakened immune system. You can also check your own skin at home every month, inspecting for any new moles or changes to existing spots.
8. Tests for Infectious Diseases
Infectious diseases, like hepatitis C (a viral infection that can cause liver damage) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), can cause serious health issues and spread to others. Because symptoms aren’t always noticeable, blood, urine, or swab screening tests for a variety of infectious diseases — including sexually transmitted infections (STIs) — are important for preventing transmission or disease complications, Schuster notes.
These can include tests for specific STIs (like chlamydia and gonorrhea) and HIV screenings.
When to get it: It’s recommended that all adults up to age 79 get a one-time test for hepatitis C and that everyone ages 13 to 64 get a one-time HIV test. Repeat the HIV screening annually if you are sexually active or have other risk factors, like using injectable drugs.
Men who have unprotected sex and more than one sexual partner should also get tested regularly for other STIs as their doctor suggests. Experts also recommend this testing at least once a year for men who have sex with men, who may be at a higher risk of STIs.
“Exactly how often you should be tested really depends on the individual, and that’s a great discussion to have with your family doctor,” Richardson adds.
9. Mental and Cognitive Assessments
Men are less likely to be diagnosed with a mental health condition like anxiety or depression compared to women, but have a greater chance of dying by suicide or experiencing substance misuse disorder. Experts theorize that men may not seek professional medical support as much or could be underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed when it comes to mental health.
A mental health screening, which consists of a series of questions to help your clinician check for signs of a disorder, is the first step.
When to get it: Richardson recommends talking to your doctor at least once a year about scheduling a screening for depression and anxiety, but don’t wait for your annual exam if you think you might need help sooner. “If you ever feel like your mood is off, you shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to your doctor to discuss what options are available to you, whether it’s medication, therapy, or simply talking to someone,” says Richardson.
Similarly, you can ask your healthcare provider about a cognitive function assessment (which measures how well your brain is working) anytime you’re noticing changes in memory or thinking. Men ages 65 and older may receive a cognitive test at their annual checkup as part of a routine exam for the aging brain, or if an underlying cognitive condition like Alzheimer’s disease is suspected.
