FOR LOTS OF Australian men, a trip to the GP is unusual. They’ve learned to wait a while before seeking help for symptoms that might go away on their own, or to tolerate symptoms so they can still go to school or work, or take care of their family. But seeing a GP shouldn’t be just about getting treatment for obvious health problems.
Having a GP that you see regularly should be a normal part of your life. It helps to prevent health problems from developing in the first place and allows early detection and treatment of problems that do occur. It literally reduces your risk of dying.
There are some health checks you can, and should, do yourself, but most are best left to the experts.
Here are 13 health checks every Australian man needs. Use them to guide regular visits to your GP.
DIY Health Checks
1 Testicular self-examination
From your teens onwards, it’s important to get to know your testes. Every couple of months, you should check for any unusual lumps, changes in size or changes in how they feel. Testicular cancer is the most common type of cancer in men aged 20-34. If it’s caught early, treatment is almost always effective. If you notice changes to how your testes feel, see your GP straight away.
2 Skin self-examination
Aim to check over your skin for any changes once every month or two. Get a partner, friend or family member to check out your back and other bits you can’t see. If there’s something new that you’re not sure about, or there are any changes, book in to see your GP without delay. Australia has the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, and men are more likely to develop melanoma than women.
Dr Tim Moss from Healthy Male
GP checks for all ages
3 Blood pressure
High blood pressure may come with no symptoms. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) recommends everyone has their blood pressure checked every two years.
4 Body size
Measurements like body weight, waist circumference and BMI should be monitored regularly. Your GP will keep track of these measurements to detect any changes before they become an issue.
5 Health behaviours
Your doctor should take advantage of appointments with you to ask about your diet, use of alcohol and other substances, and physical activity levels. It’s important to take responsibility for these things yourself, but it’s useful to have your GP discuss these things with you.
6 Mood
Mental health problems are common but they’re often not obvious and can be overlooked. Your GP should check that you’re feeling OK but if you’ve been feeling grumpy or aren’t enjoying things like you used to, it’s worth making an appointment to talk about it. All GPs can help to come up with a plan to help you feel as good as possible.
7 Sexual health and STI screening
You might not have any obvious symptoms, but sexually transmissible infections (STIs) are more common than most people think. You might want an STI check if you change sexual partners. The timing of STI checks depends on your individual circumstances, so ask your GP if they think you should have one.
8 Preconception health check
Planning to have a baby in the next year? A pre-conception check with your GP is a smart first step. Fertility can be affected by a number of things — weight, smoking, age, STIs and chemical exposure among them — and sorting these out early matters not just for conception, but for your baby’s health too. Your GP can advise on any changes to make and whether any testing is recommended.
Start these checks at 40
9 Diabetes screening
The RACGP recommends screening for Type 2 diabetes every two to three years from the age of 40 but it should start earlier if you have risk factors like family history, excess weight or high blood pressure. GPs know how to calculate your risk. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men, diabetes screening is recommended from age 18.
10 Skin checks
Regularly checking your skin for any changes should be something you do normally but from age 40 you should ask a GP or skin specialist to cast a professional eye over your skin.
11 Prostate cancer screening
Prostate cancer screening: If you’re in your 40s and concerned about prostate cancer, you should talk to your GP about it. A blood test to screen for prostate cancer is available, and it’s recommended for men at higher-than-normal risk (e.g. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males, or those with a family history of prostate cancer or of sub-Saharan ancestry), but it’s not recommended for everyone. A digital rectal examination is not recommended for screening men without symptoms, so your doctor is not going to stick their finger in your bum if you raise the issue of prostate cancer screening. What they will do is talk to you about having a blood test and what the next steps might be after that.
Start these checks at 45
12 Heart health checks
Once you hit 45, a heart health check every two years is recommended. This includes measurements of blood pressure, body weight and a calculation of your overall cardiovascular risk. From the age of 45, you should also have your blood cholesterol levels checked as part of your ongoing heart health monitoring. Your GP can arrange the necessary blood test and then work out whether any further action or advanced tests are needed
13 Bowel cancer screening
Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in Australian men. From age 45, a screening test is recommended every two years. The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program mails a free test to eligible Australians but you can also ask your GP about the test.
This generic list of health checks is just the bare minimum. A GP who knows your medical and family histories and is familiar with your lifestyle and health behaviours may suggest changes.
When you see your GP, ask them when you should see them next if they don’t suggest it themselves. Like any relationship, getting the most out of your partnership with your GP depends on regular, clear communication.
Men’s Health Week (15-21 June 2026) is a great reminder to visit your GP if you’ve noticed a health change. Visit menhealthweek.com.au for more information.
Associate Professor Tim Moss is the Health Content Manager at Healthy Male — an Australian not-for-profit that provides evidence-based information on men’s health. Tim has a PhD in medicine and uses his experience and expertise from more than 20 years of work in medical research and academia to find and interpret reliable, evidence-based information, to challenge dogma, myths and misinformation. For information on everything from anxiety to fertility, exercise to erections, you can check out Healthy Male here.
Related:
The Health Checks Every Man Needs In His 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, & 60s
These are the 10 biggest killers of Australian men
