Vaccinations
Early adulthood is an ideal time to develop an ongoing working relationship with a family or primary care doctor, Meigs says. That way, you’ll have someone you trust—and who is familiar with your lifestyle and health history—to talk to about any health concerns.
That’s important when it comes to diseases that may be uncomfortable to discuss or that don’t get regularly screened for, such as testicular cancer, Meigs says. In this case, for example, some men might ignore symptoms, and the USPSTF recommends against regular screening for the cancer because it is relatively rare and has a high survival rate.
Still, testicular cancer is the most common cancer among men ages 15 to 34. If you discover a lump or have pain in a testicle, it’s important to tell your doctor.
And while the CDC’s baseline recommendations for yearly STD screenings are directed mainly at women and at men who have sex with men, Ana Fadich, M.P.H., vice president of the nonprofit health education group Men’s Health Network, says all men should consider STD testing any time they change sexual partners.
Men will need to request this screening at the doctor’s office, Fadich says, because there’s no men’s health equivalent of the well-woman visit, in which STD screenings are routine.
- Flu shot, every year.
- Tetanus booster, every 10 years.
- Whooping cough vaccine (Tdap booster) unless you’re certain you had one as a preteen or teenager.
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, if you’re younger than 21 and haven’t received it yet, or if you’re younger than 26 and have sex with men.
- Sexually transmitted disease: If you’re sexually active and have sex with men, get screened at least once a year for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. And all men should get tested for HIV at least once. According to the CDC, everyone between ages 13 and 64 should be tested during their lifetime. (If you have certain risk factors, you’ll need additional screenings.)
- Blood pressure: Have it checked at least once every two years.
- Cholesterol: Have your cholesterol tested every four to six years, depending on results. If you have heart disease or diabetes, a family history of heart disease, or other cardiac risk factors, you may need to do this more often.
- Type 2 diabetes: If you’re overweight or obese and have one or more other risk factors, such as a family history of diabetes or high blood pressure or cholesterol, have a blood test every three years, depending on results.
- Sexual history and condom use.
- Diet, exercise, and sleep habits.
- Smoking, alcohol consumption, and any other substance-use habits.
Early adulthood is an ideal time to develop an ongoing working relationship with a family or primary care doctor, Meigs says. That way, you’ll have someone you trust—and who is familiar with your lifestyle and health history—to talk to about any health concerns.
That’s important when it comes to diseases that may be uncomfortable to discuss or that don’t get regularly screened for, such as testicular cancer, Meigs says. In this case, for example, some men might ignore symptoms, and the USPSTF recommends against regular screening for the cancer because it is relatively rare and has a high survival rate.
Still, testicular cancer is the most common cancer among men ages 15 to 34. If you discover a lump or have pain in a testicle, it’s important to tell your doctor.
And while the CDC’s baseline recommendations for yearly STD screenings are directed mainly at women and at men who have sex with men, Ana Fadich, M.P.H., vice president of the nonprofit health education group Men’s Health Network, says all men should consider STD testing any time they change sexual partners.
Men will need to request this screening at the doctor’s office, Fadich says, because there’s no men’s health equivalent of the well-woman visit, in which STD screenings are routine.
