Men’s Screening and Preventive Tests in Your 40s, 50s and Beyond

Lab work, screenings and tests may be a hassle, but they can save your life. You’ll notice that your doctor will order some tests during certain periods of your life, while others will be ordered every year. 

Here are the preventive screenings you’ll probably have during your life broken down into two categories by age group. 

For Middle-Age Men: Tests You Need Before 65

BLOOD PRESSURE – This screening should be performed at least once every two years. If you have conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease or high blood pressure, your doctor may take your blood pressure more often. Blood pressure readings have two numbers. Ideally, the top number should be between 120 and 139 mm Hg, while the bottom number should range from 80 to 89 mm Hg.

CHOLESTEROL PROFILE – This screening should be performed at least once every five years. Cholesterol screenings include total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL - good cholesterol), ratio between total cholesterol and HDL, low density lipoprotein (LDL - bad cholesterol) and triglycerides. The MDVIP Wellness Program also includes particle size. You may need the test repeated if you’ve gained weight or have issues such as heart disease, high cholesterol or kidney disease. Ideally, total cholesterol should be 125 to 200 mg/dL, HDL should be 40 or higher, LDL should be less than 100 and triglycerides should be less than 150. 

COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENINGS – if you are younger than 45, your doctor may order a screening if you are high risk; otherwise, these screenings begin at 45. Screenings such as stool-based fecal occult blood, fecal immunochemical test and stool sDNA test can be conducted annually, CT colonography and flexibly sigmoidoscopy are ordered every five to 10 years and colonoscopies are every 10 years.

DENTAL EXAM – You should visit a dentist’s office either once or twice year for an exam and cleaning. The dentist will evaluate if you need more frequent visits.

DIABETES –This screening should take place every three years. Your doctor may begin your screenings earlier or more often if you have risk factors for diabetes such as being overweight or having high blood pressure. Screenings usually involve bloodwork to measure A1C levels – the average blood sugar level over the last several months. A reading of 5.7 percent or lower is normal, between 5.7 and 6.4 percent is the prediabetic range and 6.5 percent and over suggests diabetes. If you are diagnosed with diabetes, you may be subjected to more in-depth tests such as fasting blood sugar and/or glucose tolerance test.

EYE EXAM – This screening should be conducted every two to four years between ages 40 and 54 and between one and three years between ages 55 and 64. If may be conducted annually if you have diabetes.

GENERAL HEALTH AND SAFETY – Every year your doctor will probably discuss your nutrition and supplements you take, physical activity level, emotional state including stress, depression and anxiety, substance use such as alcohol, tobacco and cannabis. They will probably ask you about your sleep habits and relationships, as well as remind you to put on a seatbelt, wear a bike helmet and change batteries in smoke detectors  

HEIGHT, WEIGHT, BMI – these screenings should be conducted annually.

INFECTIOUS DISEASE SCREENING – at some point between 18 and 79, you’ll probably get screened for hepatitis C. If your lifestyle warrants it or symptoms appear, you may be screened for sexually transmitted infections.

IMMUNIZATIONS – your doctor may recommend an annual flu shot, as well as vaccines for shingles/herpes zoster after age 50, pneumonia after age 65, a tetanus-diphtheria booster every 10 years and COVID-19. 

LUNG CANCER SCREENING – this screening is usually annual if you are younger than 80 and smoke or quit within the last 15 years but have a 20 pack-year smoking history.   

OSTEOPOROSIS SCREENING – This screening is ordered if you are between 50 and 70 and have risks for osteoporosis including steroid usage, low body weight, drink heavily, have a family history of osteoporosis or experienced a fracture after 50.

PHYSICAL EXAM – This should be conducted annually.

PROSTATE CANCER – These screenings begin at age 45 and often include an annual digital rectal and exam and PSA test.

SKIN EXAM – These screenings are often based on risk. If you spend a lot of time outdoors or have a personal/family history of skin cancer, a light complexion, light eyes, weakened immune system, history of sunburns or specific types of moles, your doctor may recommend annual screenings.    

TESTICULAR EXAM – Formal screenings for testicular cancer don’t exist. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force no longer recommends self-checks. Discuss testicular cancer early detection with your doctor.

For Older-Age Men: Tests You Need After 65

BLOOD PRESSURE – This screening should be performed at least once every two years. If you have conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease or high blood pressure, your doctor may take your blood pressure more often. Blood pressure readings have two numbers. Ideally, the top number should be between 120 and 139 mm Hg, while the bottom number should range from 80 to 89 mm Hg.

CHOLESTEROL PROFILE – This screening should be performed at least once every five years. Cholesterol screenings include total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL - good cholesterol), ratio between total cholesterol and HDL, low density lipoprotein (LDL - bad cholesterol) and triglycerides. The MDVIP Wellness Program also includes particle size. You may need the test repeated if you’ve gained weight or have issues such as heart disease, high cholesterol or kidney disease. Ideally, total cholesterol should be 125 to 200 mg/dL, HDL should be 40 or higher, LDL should be less than 100 and triglycerides should be less than 150. 

COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENINGS – Until age 75, your doctor may order a screening such as stool-based fecal occult blood, fecal immunochemical test and stool sDNA test can be conducted annually, CT colonography and flexibly sigmoidoscopy are ordered every five to 10 years and colonoscopies are every 10 years.

DENTAL EXAM – You should visit a dentist’s office either once or twice year for an exam and cleaning. The dentist will evaluate if you need more frequent visits.

DIABETES – This screening should take place every three years. Your doctor may begin your screenings earlier or more often if you have risk factors for diabetes such as being overweight or having high blood pressure. Screenings usually involve bloodwork to measure A1C levels – the average blood sugar level over the last several months. A reading of 5.7 percent or lower is normal, between 5.7 and 6.4 percent is the prediabetic range and 6.5 percent and over suggests diabetes. If you are diagnosed with diabetes, you may be subjected to more in-depth tests such as fasting blood sugar and/or glucose tolerance test.

EYE EXAM – this screening should be conducted every one to two years starting at age 65. If may be conducted annually if you have diabetes.

GENERAL HEALTH AND SAFETY – Every year your doctor will probably discuss your nutrition and supplements you take, physical activity level, emotional state including stress, depression and anxiety, substance use such as alcohol, tobacco and cannabis. They will probably ask you about your sleep habits, relationships and if you’re having drug interactions, and remind you to put on a seatbelt, wear a bike helmet and change batteries in smoke detectors.   

HEARING TEST – talk to your doctor about a hearing test if you think you may have some hearing loss. 

HEIGHT, WEIGHT, BMI – these screenings should be conducted annually.

INFECTIOUS DISEASE SCREENING – at some point between 18 and 79, you’ll probably get screened for hepatitis C. If your lifestyle warrants it or symptoms appear, you may be screened for sexually transmitted viruses.

IMMUNIZATIONS – Your doctor may recommend an annual flu shot, as well as vaccines for shingles/herpes zoster, pneumonia, a tetanus-diphtheria booster and COVID-19. 

LUNG CANCER SCREENING – This screening is usually annual if you are between 50 and 80 and smoke or quit within the last 15 years but have a 20 pack-year smoking history.   

OSTEOPOROSIS SCREENING – This screening is ordered if you are between 50 and 70 and have risks for osteoporosis including steroid usage, low body weight, drink heavily, have a family history of osteoporosis or experienced a fracture after 50. If you are older than 70, your doctor may discuss getting a bone mineral density test with you.

PHYSICAL EXAM – This should be conducted annually.

PROSTATE CANCER – These screenings go through age 69 and usually involve an annual digital rectal and exam and PSA test.

SKIN EXAM – These screenings are often based on risk. If you spend a lot of time outdoors or have a personal/family history of skin cancer, a light complexion, light eyes, weakened immune system, history of sunburns or specific types of moles, your doctor may recommend annual screenings.    

TESTICULAR EXAM – Formal screenings for testicular cancer don’t exist. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force no longer recommends self-checks. Discuss testicular cancer early detection with your doctor.