9 Health Screenings Men Should Get

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

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.

2. Cholesterol Panel

• 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

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.

4. Prostate Cancer Screening

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.

5. Colorectal Cancer Test

“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.”

6. Lung Cancer Screening

“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.

7. Skin Cancer Screening

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.

8. Tests for Infectious Diseases

These can include tests for specific STIs (like chlamydia and gonorrhea) and HIV screenings.

“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

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.