Here are the screening tests and immunizations that most men ages 40 to 49 need. A screening test is done to find possible disorders or diseases in people who don’t have any symptoms. The goal is to find a disease early so lifestyle changes can be made and you can be watched more closely to reduce the risk of disease, or to detect it early enough to treat it most effectively. Screening tests are not considered diagnostic, but are used to determine if more testing is needed. Although you and your healthcare provider may decide that a different schedule is best for you, this plan can guide your discussion.
| Screening | Who needs it | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol misuse | All adults | At routine exams |
| Blood pressure | All adults | Yearly checkup if your blood pressure is normal*Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg*If your blood pressure reading is higher than normal, follow the advice of your healthcare provider |
| Depression | All men in this age group | At routine exams |
| Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes | All men beginning at age 45 and men without symptoms at any age who are overweight or obese and have 1 or more additional risk factors for diabetes | At least every 3 years (annually if blood sugar is already rising) |
| Type 2 diabetes | All men with prediabetes | Every year |
| BMI (body mass index) | All men in this age group | Every year, to help find out if you are at a healthy weight for your height |
| Hepatitis C | Anyone at increased risk | At routine exams |
| HIV | All men | At routine exams |
| High cholesterol and triglycerides | All men ages 35 and older, and younger men at high risk for coronary artery disease | At least every 5 years |
| Obesity | All adults | At routine exams |
| Prostate cancer | Starting at age 45, talk to healthcare provider about risks and benefits of digital rectal exam (DRE) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening*** | At routine exams |
| Colorectal cancer | Men of average risk ages 45 and older | Several tests are available and used at different times.Tests include:Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, orCT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years, orColonoscopy every 10 years, orYearly fecal occult blood test, orYearly fecal immunochemical test every year, orStool DNA test, every 3 yearsYou will need a follow-up colonoscopy if you choose any test other than a colonoscopy and you have an abnormal result. Screening recommendations vary among expert groups. Talk with your doctor about which test is best for you.Some people should be screened using a different schedule because of their personal or family history. Talk with your doctor about your health history and what colorectal cancer screening schedule is best for you. |
| Syphilis | Anyone at increased risk for infection | At routine exams |
| Tuberculosis | Anyone at increased risk for infection | Check with your healthcare provider |
| Vision | All adults (1) | Every 2 to 4 years if no risk factors for eye disease (2); ask your healthcare provider if you need glaucoma screening with a dilated eye exam after 2 years |
| Counseling | Who needs it | How often |
| Diet and exercise, | Adults who are overweight or obese | When diagnosed and at routine exams |
| Aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular problems | Men ages 45 to 79, when potential benefits from a decrease in heart attacks outweigh the harm or risks from an increase in gastrointestinal hemorrhage | When diagnosed with risk for cardiovascular/heart disease; check with your healthcare provider before starting |
| Sexually transmitted infection prevention | Anyone at increased risk for infection | At routine exams |
| Tobacco use and tobacco-related disease | All adults | Every exam |
| Immunization | Who needs it | How often |
| Tetanus/diphtheria/ pertussis (Td/Tdap) booster | All adults | Td: every 10 yearsTdap: substitute a 1-time dose of Tdap for a Td booster after age 18, then boost with Td every 10 years |
| Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) | All adults in this age group who have no record of previous infection or vaccines** | 1 or 2 doses |
| Chickenpox (varicella) | All adults in this age group who have no record of previous infection or vaccines** | 2 doses; the second dose should be given at least 4 weeks after the first dose |
| Flu (seasonal) | All adults | Yearly, when the vaccine becomes available in the community |
| Hepatitis A | Men at risk (2) | 2 or 3 doses (depending on the vaccine) given at least 6 months apart; check with your healthcare provider |
| Hepatitis B | Men at risk (3) | 2 or 3 doses (depending on the vaccine) over 6 months; check with your healthcare provider. The second dose should be given 1 month after the first dose, and the third dose should be given at least 2 months after the second dose and at least 4 months after the first dose |
| Haemophilus influenza Type B (HIB) | Men at risk | 1 to 3 doses |
| Meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY) | Men at risk** | 1 or more doses, depending on your case; then a booster every 5 years if you are still at risk; check with your healthcare provider |
| Meningococcal B (MenB) | Men at risk | 2 or 3 doses, depending on the vaccine and your case; check with your healthcare provider |
| Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) | Men at risk4 | PCV13: 1 dose ages 19 to 65 (protects against 13 types of pneumococcal bacteria) PPSV23: 1 to 2 doses through age 64, or 1 dose at 65 or older (protects against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria) |