Men's Health Screenings That Are Easy to Overlook

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends a one-time abdominal ultrasound for men aged 65 to 75 who have ever smoked — defined as 100 or more cigarettes in a lifetime. An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a dangerous bulging or weakening of the large blood vessel that runs through the abdomen. Because AAAs typically cause no symptoms until they rupture, this single ultrasound can be lifesaving.

Uptake remains lower than clinicians would like, often because men in this age group don't realize the recommendation exists or assume they would feel something if something were wrong. The test is non-invasive, takes about 10 minutes, and is typically covered under Medicare's Welcome to Medicare preventive visit.

PSA testing is one of the most discussed — and most misunderstood — screenings in men's health. The test measures a protein produced by the prostate gland; elevated levels can indicate prostate cancer, but also benign enlargement or infection. Current USPSTF guidance recommends that men aged 55 to 69 make an individual decision about PSA screening in consultation with their doctor, weighing potential benefits against the risk of false positives and overdiagnosis.

The nuance here is important: neither blanket screening nor blanket avoidance is the right answer for every man. Family history, race (Black men face a higher incidence of prostate cancer), and personal values all factor into the conversation. For a thorough look at where the evidence stands, see our detailed guide to PSA testing and prostate health.

Testicular cancer is rare overall but is the most common cancer in men aged 15 to 35. Importantly, it is also among the most treatable cancers when detected early. Despite this, testicular health is rarely a structured part of routine primary care conversations for younger men.

Major guideline bodies do not uniformly recommend formal periodic clinical testicular exams for average-risk men, but they do encourage men to be familiar with what their testicles normally look and feel like so that any changes — lumps, swelling, heaviness — prompt a timely medical evaluation. Men with a history of undescended testicles or a family history of testicular cancer should discuss a more proactive approach with their provider.

Men are diagnosed with melanoma at higher rates than women and are more likely to be diagnosed at a later, more advanced stage. Contributing factors include lower rates of sunscreen use, more cumulative outdoor sun exposure across a lifetime, and a tendency to dismiss skin changes as minor. Yet a full-body skin exam by a dermatologist is a straightforward, non-invasive procedure.

The USPSTF notes insufficient evidence to recommend routine skin cancer screening for the general population, but many dermatologists and primary care physicians still offer it — and men with fair skin, a history of sunburns, significant outdoor exposure, or a family history of skin cancer have clearer reason to pursue it. See why outdoor habits create hidden skin cancer risk in men for a more in-depth look.

Depression and anxiety screenings are a recognized part of preventive care — the USPSTF recommends screening adults for depression in primary care settings — yet men are significantly less likely than women to receive these screenings or to report symptoms when asked. Cultural norms around masculinity, reluctance to discuss emotional health, and limited screening time during brief appointments all contribute.

Standard tools like the PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire) take only a few minutes to complete and can open a productive conversation between a man and his provider. Untreated depression in men is linked to poorer outcomes across physical health conditions as well. Families noticing behavioral or mood changes in a male family member can encourage a checkup that includes this dimension. Learn more about what mental health screening for men actually looks like in practice.

The USPSTF recommends screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in adults aged 35 to 70 who are overweight or have obesity. Men are more likely than women to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at a lower body mass index, partly due to how men tend to store visceral (abdominal) fat, which has a stronger association with insulin resistance.

A fasting blood glucose test or HbA1c (a measure of average blood sugar over roughly three months) can identify prediabetes — a reversible state in which blood sugar is elevated but not yet in the diabetic range. Many men in their 40s and 50s who meet screening criteria have never had this conversation with a provider, often because it falls outside the more visible metrics of blood pressure or cholesterol.