Health screening guidelines: Men 18 to 39

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What can I do?


How can I make sure I'm staying healthy?

Find out which tests, screenings, checkups and immunizations are recommended for your age group.

Commonly recommended screenings for men age 18 to 39

  • Physical exam (Everyone): Recommended every 2 – 3 years. Your doctor will evaluate if you have a need for more frequent visits.
  • Blood Pressure screening: This will happen at your physical.
  • Cholesterol Screening / Heart Disease Prevention (Age 35 and older): If you have risk factors for heart disease, such as diabetes, start getting screened earlier, at age 20. Men over age 35 and older should be checked every 5 years. Repeat testing may be needed sooner if changes occur in lifestyle (including weight gain and diet).
  • Diabetes screening: If your blood pressure is above 135/80 mm Hg, your provider may test your blood sugar level for diabetes.
  • Dental exam
  • Eye exam
  • Immunizations (Your primary care doctor will review your immunization history)

Prevention Guidelines for Men 18 to 39

Screening tests and vaccines are an important part of managing your health. A screening test is done to find diseases in people who don't have any symptoms. The goal is to find a disease early so lifestyle changes and checkups can reduce the risk of disease. Or the goal may be to find it early to treat it most effectively. Screening tests are not used to diagnose a disease. But they are used to see if more testing is needed. Health counseling is important, too. Below are guidelines for these, for men ages 18 to 39. Talk with your healthcare provider to make sure you’re up to date on what you need.

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 is higher than normal, follow the advice of your healthcare provider

Depression

All adults who have access to healthcare provider for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up

At routine exams

Diabetes mellitus, type 2

Adults who have no symptoms and are overweight or obese and have 1 or more extra risk factors for diabetes (such as having a close family member with diabetes or if the adult is African American, Latino, Native American, or Asian American.)

At least every 3 years (yearly if blood sugar has started to rise)

Hepatitis C

If at increased risk

At routine exams

HIV

All men

At routine exams

High cholesterol and triglycerides

Cholesterol should be checked at least once between ages 17 and 21. 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

Syphilis

Anyone at increased risk for infection

At routine exams

Chlamydia

Anyone at increased risk for infection

At routine exams

Gonorrhea

Anyone at increased risk for infection

At routine exams

Tuberculosis

Anyone at increased risk for infection

Check with your healthcare provider

Vision

All men in this age group

Every 5 to 10 years if no risk factors for eye disease

Counseling

Who needs it

How often

Diet and exercise

Adults who are overweight or obese

When diagnosed and at routine exams

Sexually transmitted infection prevention

Men who are sexually active

At routine visits

Skin cancer

Prevention of skin cancer in fair-skinned adults through age 24

At routine visits

Tobacco use and tobacco-related disease

All adults

Every exam

Immunizations***

Who needs

How often

Tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Td/Tdap) booster

All adults

Td: every 10 years

Tdap: Have a 1-time dose of Tdap instead of 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 this infection or vaccine

2 doses. The second dose should be given 4 to 8 weeks after the first dose.

Flu (seasonal)

All adults

Yearly, when the vaccine is available

COVID-19

All adults

1 to 2 doses depending on vaccine; talk with your healthcare provider

Hepatitis A

People at risk

2 doses given at least 6 months apart

Hepatitis B

People at risk

3 doses over 6 months. The second dose should be given 1 month after the first dose. The third dose should be given at least 2 months after the second dose (and at least 4 months after the first dose).

Haemophilus influenzae Type B (HIB)

People at risk

1 to 3 doses

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

All men in this age group up to age 26

2-3 doses (depending on the age at which the vaccine series began). If 3 doses are advised, the second dose should be given at least 1 month after the first dose and the third dose should be given at least 5 months after the first dose.

Men ages 27 to 45 depending on risk; talk with your healthcare provider

Meningococcal

People at risk

1 or more doses; talk with your healthcare provider

Pneumococcal (PCV13) and pneumococcal (PPSV23)

People at risk

PCV13: 1 dose ages 19 to 65 (protects against 13 types of pneumococcal bacteria)

PPSV23: 1 to 3 doses depending on medical situation (protects against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria)

The type of vaccine used and the number of doses depends on age and medical situation. Talk with your healthcare provider about when and which type of vaccine is best for you.