Unfortunately, most men take better care of their cars than they do of their own bodies. Just as no man would skip an oil change or 50,000-mile tune-up, he shouldn’t skip out on important annual physical exams and health screenings. Physical health is very closely tied to penis health, making these check-ups vital to a healthy sex life, as well. Learn what health screenings every man needs throughout each decade of his life in order to keep everything under the hood running smoothly.
In the 20s
Though men are hopefully at the pinnacle of health at this age, it’s still important to make time for an annual visit with the doctor. Here’s a list of everything the doc should check regularly during this decade:
- Annual physical with blood pressure check
- In-office screening for testicular cancer
- Cholesterol testing every 5 years
- Yearly skin cancer screening
- Depending on family history, screening for other conditions such as thyroid, diabetes, heart conditions, liver conditions, or anemia
- Screening for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, every 3-6 months for men who are not in monogamous relationships
At home:
- Monthly testicular self-exams to monitor for changes
- Monthly skin cancer self-exam to check for changes
In the 30s
Not much changes between these two decades; all of same in-office and at-home screenings from the 20s would be carried on in the 30s, with these add-ons:
- More intensive visual health screenings
- Screenings for coronary heart disease – particularly in men with a strong family history of heart problems
In the 40s
While the 40s used to be considered “over the hill,” it is far from it these days. Still, make sure the doc is continuing all of the above health screenings as well as adding on a few more. Keep up on those monthly self-exams, too:
- Screenings for prostate cancer
- Possible screenings for colon cancer, depending on risk factors and family history
- Diabetes screening every 3 years once a man has reached age 45
In the 50s
Whether a man is considering early retirement or still going strong in his career, his health is as important as ever. A doc will keep all the previous health screenings going, as well as the following:
- Yearly blood draw screening for Type II diabetes
- Yearly electrocardiogram
- Vision and hearing screenings
- Screening for lipid disorders
- Colon cancer screening, including blood testing and colonoscopy starting at age 50
- Evaluation for depression
In the 60s
Reaching the 60s is reason to celebrate, not to slow down; so maintain an active lifestyle and make sure the doc continues all the essential exams while adding the following. If those monthly self-exams are getting more difficult, feel free to enlist a partner for help:
- Screenings for coronary heart disease, as well as preventative screenings or ultrasounds for carotid artery and abdominal aortic aneurysm, especially for men with other existing cardiovascular conditions
- Osteoporosis screening
- Lung cancer screening – depending on risk factors and family history
- Screening for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in addition to depression or anxiety issues
In the 70s and beyond
By this time the doc has probably run about every preventative screening there is. Depending on previous results and personal health history, the doc may increase or decrease the frequency of certain studies and screenings. A thorough discussion with a doctor who is familiar with one’s entire history is important to determine what health exams should be conducted both in-office and at home.
Maintaining Sexual Health
In order to stay sexually active – and healthy – into the 70’s and beyond, men need to be taking care of their bodies their entire life. In addition to getting plenty of exercise, maintaining regular physicals and other health screenings, men should always use a condom to reduce their chance of transmitting sexual infections. Regular screenings of one’s sexual health is imperative to keep the penis healthy.
For all men, daily use of a penis health cream (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil) can help reduce daily wear and tear on the penis, reduce the symptoms of Peyronie’s disease – a curvature of the penis that is more common in older men – and keep circulation to the penis strong, which is perhaps the most essential component of a healthy sex life.