By TriCountyUrology.org Editorial Team | Updated August 27, 2026
Preventive Care Brief
- Age 18 and older: check blood pressure.
- Age 45 to 75: screen for colon cancer.
- Age 55 to 69: make a personal PSA choice.
- Age 65 to 75: smoking history can change the need for a one-time ultrasound.
Men do not need every test each year. Age is one part of the choice. Your history and past test results also matter. A clinician can help apply these recommendations to your history, risks, prior results, health, and preferences.
Age 18 and older: start with blood pressure
The Task Force says adults age 18 and older should have blood pressure checks. If an office reading is high, it says to check again outside the clinic. This should happen before treatment starts.
The recommendation applies to adults age 18 and older without known hypertension.
Age 45 to 75: colorectal cancer screening
The Task Force says adults age 45 through 75 should get colon cancer screening. You can choose from several tests. Each has its own schedule.
For ages 76 through 85, the choice is personal. Look at past tests and overall health with a clinician. The decision should also reflect the person's preferences.
Age 55 to 69: make an individual PSA decision
The Task Force says men age 55 to 69 should make their own PSA screening choice. Talk with a clinician about possible benefit and risks. Risks include false alarms, biopsy, finding cancer that may never cause harm, and harm from treatment.
It advises against routine PSA screening for men age 70 and older. This recommendation addresses PSA-based screening rather than evaluation of symptoms.
Age 65 to 75: smoking history matters
The Task Force recommends one ultrasound check for men age 65 to 75 who have ever smoked. The check looks for an abdominal aortic aneurysm, or AAA. For men that age who never smoked, a clinician may offer the check based on other risks and personal choice.
Build your own one-page record
- Record your relevant health and screening history.
- Record smoking history when discussing aneurysm screening.
- Note prior colorectal screening results.
- Write down your preferences and questions for the clinician.
TriCountyUrology also publishes separate discussions of men's-health treatment choices and supplement safety questions. Those pages do not replace a personal screening plan.
When a schedule does not apply
These screening recommendations apply to people without signs of the condition being checked; they do not address evaluation of symptoms.
Bottom line
Use age as a starting point, not the whole decision. A clinician should adjust the plan for your history, prior results, health, and preferences.
Sources: USPSTF blood pressure screening; USPSTF colorectal cancer screening; USPSTF prostate cancer screening; USPSTF abdominal aortic aneurysm screening.
This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your doctor or qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine.