How to get your guy to the doctor

What to expect: A man's annual checkup
20s and 30s
• Review of general health. (The doctor will ask about lifestyle habits, such as sex, smoking, drug use, alcohol consumption, diet and exercise.)
• Examination of the head and neck, focusing on the eyes and ears, and lymph nodes in the neck
• Blood pressure test
• Check of heart with stethoscope
• Measurement of height and weight
• Determine body mass index (BMI)
• Examination of the abdomen for hernias
• Questions about changes in the scrotum, genital and anal regions (Yup, the doctor is simply asking.)
• Testicular exam, if there's a concern, or a history of testicular problems
• Urine test or swab if patient is at high risk of having a sexually transmitted disease such as HIV or hepatitis
• Checks of cholesterol levels through fasting lipid profile if at high risk for heart disease
• Screening for depression using standardized form, if there's an indication that the individual may be depressed
• Update of tetanus shots if necessary (every 10 years)
• Annual flu shot
TIP: "In a man's 20s and 30s, the focus is on talking about lifestyle and habits, and encouraging individuals to make changes such as exercising, eating healthier and quitting smoking to prevent the onset of illness," says Dr. Vinita Dubey, a physician with Toronto Public Health, and coauthor of the "Preventive Care Checklist Form," which is used by doctors across Canada to conduct physical examinations.

40s
Added to the 20s and 30s list is:
• Colon screening (fecal occult blood test, sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy) if at higher risk of colorectal cancer; for example, if a parent or sibling had it
• Fasting lipid profile now done at least every three years

50s
Added to the cumulative list is:
• Annual or biannual colon screening (fecal blood, sigmoidoscopy or colonscopy)
• Whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine
TIP: It's not recommended that men get a routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. The PSA test can be falsely positive in many men, which leads to unnecessary further tests and anxiety, says Dubey. Speak to your doctor about whether the PSA test is right
for you.

65 and Up
Added to the cumulative list is:
• A one-time bone mineral density test at age 65 – sooner if there are risk factors – and thereafter when the doctor thinks it necessary. (Daily vitamin D and calcium supplements are recommended to prevent osteoporosis.)
• Pneumococcal vaccine
TIP: Routine rectal exams have not been shown to detect disease earlier, but talk to your physician if you have health concerns or symptoms that you think warrant one.

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