Men's Health Taree

A men's health check is a general assessment of your current health and future risk factors. The doctor will typically review your medical and family history, lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol, diet and exercise, and take baseline measurements including blood pressure, weight and waist circumference. Depending on your age and risk profile, they may recommend blood tests to check cholesterol, blood glucose, kidney and liver function, along with screening relevant to your stage of life, such as bowel cancer screening from age 45 or prostate discussions from around 50 — earlier if there's family history.

Mental health is increasingly part of the picture too, with many doctors asking about stress, mood and sleep as standard. The consultation is also your chance to raise anything that's been on your mind, whether it's a persistent niggle, changes you've noticed or questions about staying healthy as you age.

For most men, conversations about prostate health start around age 50. Men with a family history of prostate cancer — particularly a father or brother diagnosed before 60 — are generally advised to start the conversation earlier, from around 40 to 45. Rather than a routine test for everyone, current Australian guidance recommends that men discuss the benefits and downsides of PSA (prostate-specific antigen) testing with their doctor and make an informed decision together.

The PSA test is a simple blood test, though results can be raised by factors other than cancer, which is why the conversation matters as much as the test itself. Symptoms such as difficulty urinating, a weak stream, frequent night-time urination or blood in the urine warrant a doctor's visit at any age, as these can indicate several treatable conditions, not only prostate concerns.

It depends on age and individual risk. As a rough guide, men under 40 in good health may only need a check-up every two to three years, while men over 40 are commonly advised to go annually, as the risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and heart disease climbs from midlife onwards. Men over 45 should also be participating in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, which sends free at-home test kits every two years from age 45 to 74.

Those with existing conditions, family history of chronic disease or lifestyle risk factors may need more regular reviews. Blood pressure is worth checking at least every two years regardless of age, since high blood pressure rarely causes symptoms. A GP can map out a sensible schedule based on your personal risk profile, so you're checking the right things at the right time.