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
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
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
HIV
All men
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
Syphilis
Anyone at increased risk for infection
Chlamydia
Gonorrhea
Tuberculosis
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
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
Tobacco use and tobacco-related disease
Every exam
Immunizations***
Who needs
Tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Td/Tdap) booster
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)
Yearly, when the vaccine is available
COVID-19
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
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)
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
1 or more doses; talk with your healthcare provider
Pneumococcal (PCV13) and pneumococcal (PPSV23)
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.