Men's Preventive Health Checklist: Labs You Should Get Annually

Most men don't get bloodwork until something feels wrong. That's like checking your oil only after the engine starts smoking. An annual lab panel is the most cost-effective health investment you can make — here's exactly what to check.

The Essential Panel

Metabolic Health

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP): Liver function, kidney function, blood glucose, electrolytes. The baseline snapshot of your metabolic engine. Catches pre-diabetes, liver issues, and kidney stress before symptoms appear.

HbA1c: Your 3-month average blood sugar. A CMP captures a single moment; HbA1c captures the trend. Pre-diabetes (5.7–6.4%) affects roughly 1 in 3 American adults, and most don't know it.

Lipid Panel: Total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in men. Catching unfavorable trends early allows lifestyle and, if needed, medical intervention years before a cardiac event.

Hormones

Total Testosterone + Free Testosterone: Should be checked in a morning draw (before 10am). Even if you have no symptoms, tracking the trend year-over-year is valuable — a steady decline from 600 to 350 over five years tells a different story than a single reading of 350.

SHBG: Sex hormone-binding globulin. Binds testosterone and affects how much is biologically available. Essential for interpreting total T numbers accurately.

Thyroid (TSH + free T4): Thyroid dysfunction mimics low testosterone — fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, mood changes. Many men are treated for low T when their thyroid is the actual issue.

Blood Health

Complete Blood Count (CBC): Red cells, white cells, platelets, hematocrit. Detects anemia, infection markers, and — critically for men on TRT — elevated hematocrit (red blood cell count).

Nutrients and Inflammation

Vitamin D: Roughly 40% of US adults are deficient. Low vitamin D is associated with fatigue, depression, poor immune function, and reduced testosterone. Easily correctable with supplementation.

hs-CRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein): A marker of systemic inflammation — one of the strongest predictors of cardiovascular risk. If elevated, it signals something needs attention even if other labs look fine.

Age-Specific (40+)

PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen): Baseline at 40, annually after 50 (or earlier with family history). Essential for men on TRT. Discuss screening frequency with your provider based on your risk profile.

Where to Get Labs Done

Many online men's health clinics include comprehensive panels in their programs. Even if you're not starting treatment, these are efficient ways to get annual labs: