For Filipino men, being the “haligi ng tahanan” (pillar of the home) is a source of pride. Working hard to provide for their family, striving for a better future for their children, instilling moral values and discipline in the home, and protecting their family physically and emotionally. Balancing all of these while pushing to continue moving forward, it’s easy to put health in the backburner. Many just assume that if nothing hurts, nothing’s wrong.
However, real strength lies in prevention. Many serious medical conditions develop silently, showing no obvious symptoms until they have already reached an advanced stage. Taking control of your health and getting these specific medical rests for men before you turn 40 is one of the most loving and responsible things you can do for yourself and your loved ones who depend on you.
June is celebrated globally as Men’s Health Month, making it the perfect time to learn about and schedule important routine check-ups. This comprehensive guide outlines the most essential medical tests for men that you should prioritize before you reach age 40. Unihealth Southwoods Hospital and Medical Center in Biñan, Laguna, is ready to help you through every step of your journey to better health.
Tests To Start in Your 20s (Ages 20-29)
The earlier you start getting these medical tests for men, the better your health foundation will be. Your 20s is the perfect time to determine your baselines and start the habit of getting regular check-ups to help you track and protect your health for the rest of your life.
1. Blood Pressure Monitoring and Heart Function Check
Heart disease is the number one cause of death among Filipino men. Hypertension or High Blood Pressure is frequently called a “silent killer”. You can walk around feeling completely fine while your arterial walls are being quietly damaged. The normal male blood pressure is typically less than 120/80 mmHg. 130/80 mmHg may indicate Stage 1 Hypertension and 140/90 mmHg and above may indicate Stage 2 Hypertension. Maintaining normal blood pressure is vital for preventing long-term damage to your heart, brain, and kidneys. In the Philippines, high-sodium diets rich in overly processed foods, fried local delicacies, and high stress lifestyles mean that hypertension is appearing earlier in younger men than before.
Beyond a basic blood pressure reading, heart function medical tests for men may also include an ECG/EKG (Electrocardiogram) and 2D Echo to assess how your heart is functioning. For those with elevated, borderline, or fluctuating readings, a 24 hrs ambulatory blood pressure monitoring test may be recommended. Unlike a single reading, a 24 hrs ambulatory blood pressure monitoring records your blood pressure continuously throughout the day and night, providing a more accurate and complete picture of your cardiovascular health. This is one of the most valuable medical tests for men with a family history of heart disease.
When to Start: Blood pressure should be checked at every check-up starting age 18. A baseline ECG is recommended by age 25-30, and 24 hrs ambulatory blood pressure monitoring as clinically indicated by your physician.
At Unihealth Southwoods: Our Heart Station Services provide ECG, 2D Echocardiogram, and 24-Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring for a comprehensive cardiovascular assessment. See our Heart Station Services here.
2. Cholesterol Monitoring
Signs of cholesterol are practically invisible. Most people have no idea that their cholesterol level is elevated until a blood test reveals it. Yet high LDL (“bad”)cholesterol is one of the leading causes of arterial plaque buildup, which can then lead toheart attack and stroke.
A lipid profile test measures your total cholesterol, LDL, HDL (“good” cholesterol), and triglycerides. Understanding normal cholesterol levels is something every Filipino man should know, here are normal cholesterol levels to keep in mind:
- Total Cholesterol: less than 200 mg/dL (normal cholesterol)
- LDL Cholesterol: less than 100 mg/dL
- HDL Cholesterol: more than 40 mg/dL for men
- Triglycerides: less than 150 mg/dL
If your numbers fall within the normal cholesterol range, keep it that way through a healthy, balanced diet, regular exercise, and limiting alcohol. If they do not, your doctor can create a plan for you which may involve lifestyle changes or medication, depending on your overall cardiovascular risk.
When to Start: A baseline lipid profile is recommended for men ages 25-30. Repeat every 4-5 years if results are within normal cholesterol levels, or more frequently if you smoke, or have a family history of heart disease.
At Unihealth Southwoods: Lipid profile testing is included in all of our Executive Check-up Packages for Men. You can check out our executive check-up packages here or explore our Heart Station services here. If you’d like to get your results interpreted, you may also consult one of our Internal Medicine specialists by viewing their schedules here.
3. STI Screening
Many sexually transmitted infections, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, Hepatitis B, and HIV, show absolutely no symptoms. A person can carry and transmit these infections for months or years without ever knowing. This is also exactly why STI screening is among the most critical medical tests for men, and yet one of the most consistently avoided.
One crucial thing to remember, getting screened for sexually transmitted infections is NOT something to be ashamed of. It is mature, responsible and an essential part of any adult man’s health routine. STD prevention starts with awareness. Knowing your status protects your health and health of your partner. Most sexually transmitted infections, when detected early, are completely treatable. STD prevention is much easier and less costly than treating infections that have been left to progress undetected. These medical tests for men are some of the most impactful you can take for your long-term wellbeing and your relationships.
When to Start: Once sexually active, you should get tested every year or every time you get a new partner. Hepatitis B vaccination is also highly recommended for all men who have not been previously vaccinated.
At Unihealth Southwoods: Our Laboratory Department offers comprehensive screening for sexually transmitted infections. These tests can be requested individually or during an outpatient consultation. You may call our Information Department at +63 925 310 5666 to learn more.
4. Testicular Cancer Check
While prostate issues usually affect older people, testicular cancer is unique because it largely affects younger men, typically those aged 15-39. Understanding testicular cancer causes is an important first step. While the exact causes are not entirely clear, major risk factors include undescended testicles during infancy, abnormal testicular development, and a family history of testicular cancer.
What makes this incredibly dangerous is that it can develop without pain in the early stages. Monthly self-examinations are a simple first step every man can take at home. Your doctor should also perform a clinical exam during your annual physical. When doing monthly self-examinations, you will need to look for any painless lumps, swelling, hardness, or changes in size.
Cancer screenings are one of the medical tests for men that Filipino culture talks about the least, but they should not be. Reproductive cancers affect men too, and catching them early saves lives. If you notice anything unusual during your monthly self-examination, our urologists can perform a professional physical exam and ultrasound to evaluate the area safely and accurately.
When to Start: Monthly self-exams starting age 20, with clinical palpation during your routine annual physical exam.
At Unihealth Southwoods: Consult one of our expert Urologists right away if you find any unusual signs during your self-exam. Check our urologist doctor schedules here.
Tests to Start in Your 30s (Ages 30-39)
During your 30s, this is when the effects of your lifestyle habits will start to show. You will experience hormonal changes, accumulated stress, and evolving family histories make the following medical tests for men increasingly important as you move through this decade.
5. Blood Sugar Screening
Diabetes is one of the fastest-growing chronic conditions in the Philippines, affecting millions of Filipinos. The most common causes of high blood sugar include a high-sugar diet, physical inactivity, obesity, chronic stress, and family history. If you are wondering how to know if your blood sugar is high, the only reliable answer is a blood test. Symptoms are often absent until the condition is already advanced.
The two most important blood sugar tests included in medical tests for men are:
- Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) – measures your blood glucose level after 8-12 hours of fasting.
- Normal: below 100 mg/dL
- Prediabetes: 100-125 mg/dL
- Diabetic blood sugar levels: 126 mg/dL and above
- HbA1C – reflects your average blood sugar over the past 2-3 months.
- Normal: below 5.7%
- Prediabetes: 5.7-6.4%
- Diabetic blood sugar levels: 6.5% and above
Unmanaged diabetic blood sugar levels can lead to kidney failure, blindness, limb amputations, and cardiovascular disease. Blood sugar testing is among the most straightforward medical tests for men to complete, yet it catches one of the most consequential conditions early when it is still reversible.
When to Start: All men should have FBS and HbA1c testing by age 35, or earlier if overweight, sedentary, or with a family history of diabetes.
At Unihealth Southwoods: FBS and HbA1c are included in our Executive Check-up Packages for Men, which you can check here. If you are experiencing symptoms of diabetes or already have pre-diabetes or diabetes, our Diabetes Center in Biñan, Laguna offers specialized counseling, monitoring, and management. You may view our Diabetes Center services here.
6. Eye Check-up and Dental Examination
An eye check-up is usually one of the medical tests for men that is most commonly put off, usually because changes in the vision happen gradually enough that many men don’t even notice them.
A comprehensive eye check-up does more than check whether you need glasses. It can detect glaucoma, early diabetic retinopathy, hypertensive retinopathy, and other vision threatening conditions. Men with diabetes especially should never skip their annual eye check-up, as diabetic eye disease is both common and preventable with early intervention.
A dental examination is equally critical and equally overlooked. Oral health is actually directly connected to cardiovascular health. Gum disease (periodontitis) has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. A thorough dental examination includes cleaning, x-rays as needed, and an assessment for oral cancer.
When to Start: Annual eye check-up from age 20; comprehensive dental examination every 6 months, or, at minimum, once a year.
At Unihealth Southwoods: Our Eye Center in Biñan, Laguna provides full ophthalmology services includign glaucoma screening. See our full list of Eye Center services here or check out our ophthalmologist doctor schedules here to book a consultation. For dental care, our Outpatient Department have experienced Dentists that you can consult. You may check our Dentist schedules here.
7. Skin Checks and Skin Assessment
A skin assessment is a non-invasive, full body visual exam done by a dermatologist to detect early signs of skin cancer, including melanoma. Many Filipinos assume skin cancer is a concern only for fair-skinned people, but Filipino men who work outdoors, enjoy going to the beach, or have significant sun exposure in their lives are also at risk.
During a skin assessment, your dermatologist will look for unusual growths or moles, lesions, or skin changes. Cancerous moles usually follow the ABCDE rule:
- Asymmetry – “Does one half mirror the other when folded in half?”
- Border Irregularity – “Are the edges uneven, ragged, notched, scalloped, or poorly defined rather than smooth and round?”
- Color Variation – “Are there multiple colors (e.g., tan, brown, black, red, white, blue) present in one lesion?”
- Diameter – “Is it larger than 6mm?”
- Evolving Size or Shape – “Are there any noticeable changes in size, shape, color, or texture? Are there new symptoms like itching, bleeding, or crusting?”
Identifying cancerous moles early before they spread to other tissues makes a big difference in the rate of treatment success and patient survival.
When to Start: A baseline skin assessment should be done in your early 30s; annual checks when you have significant sun exposure or if you have family history of skin cancer.
At Unihealth Southwoods: Our meticulous Dermatologists can perform thorough skin assessments and punch biopsy for suspected lesions. Check out our Doctors’ Schedule page for our Dermatologists’ availability here.
8. Depression Screening
Depression is one of the most underdiagnosed conditions among Filipino men, and a depression screening remains to be one of the most neglected of all medical tests for men in the Philippines. This stems from teh cultural pressure of toughness. The expectation that men should silently carry their burdens because if they don’t then it means they’re showing weakness. This keeps countless men from seeking the professional mental health care that they need and deserve. If you have been feeling persistently sad, empty, unmotivated, or like something just isn’t right, please know that asking for help is NOT weakness, it is wisdom.
A depression test is a brief, structured clinical tool that helps your doctor assess your emotional and psychological wellbeing. Beyond a standard depression test, a mental health screening test may also screen for anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and other mood conditions that significantly affect quality of life, relationships, and productivity.
Filipino men in their 30s are often navigating intense and compounding pressures. Mounting financial obligations, career demands, family responsibilities, and societal expectations all at once. These make a regular depression test and mental health screening one of the most important and most humanly meaningful medical tests for men today.
When to Start: As part of your annual physical exam, or anytime you feel overwhelmed, hopeless, or emotionally unwell, you should take a depression test or mental health screening as soon as possible.
At Unihealth Southwoods: Our expert Psychiatrists offer confidential consultations and can help you take a depression test and perform a full mental health evaluation as part of your comprehensive annual check-up.
Additional Medical Tests for Men in their 40s
Reaching age 40 is a milestone worth celebrating, and the right way to celebrate is by upgrading your preventive care. In addition to continuing all the screenings mentioned above, here are the medical tests for men that become especially important once you cross the 40-year mark.
- Prostate Cancer Screening: Establish a baseline using a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test and digital rectal exam (DRE) to detect early prostate changes.
- Colorectal Cancer Screening: Stool tests (like FIT) or colonoscopies locate and remove pre cancerous polyps before they turn into cancer.
- Cardiovascular Stress Testing: Treadmill stress tests evaluate how your heart responds to physical exertion as you age.
- Chest X-ray and Pulmonary Function Test (PFT): These tests evaluate lung health for smokers, people with chronic coughs, or those exposed to dust and chemicals in their job.
- Testosterone Level Test: Checks for low testosterone, which naturally decreases with age and causes fatigue, low libido, weight gain, or mood changes.
- Bone Density Scan: Measures bone loss to prevent fractures, especially in men with low body weight, low calcium, or long-term steroid use.
- Abdominal Ultrasound: Screens for hidden issues like kidney stones, liver disease, gallbladder problems, and life-threatening aortic aneurysms.
Medical tests for men over 40 are more comprehensive because health risks accumulate over time. Think of it as upgrading your maintenance schedule. Your body deserves that level of care.
Unihealth Southwoods Executive Check-Up Packages for Women
Getting all of these medical tests for men individually can feel overwhelming and inconvenient. Unihealth Southwoods Hospital and Medical Center, located at Southwoods EcocentrumBuinsess Park in Biñan City, Laguna, offers comprehensive Executive Check-up Packages that bundle the most essential medical tests for men into one convenient visit.
Bronze Executive Check-up Package: Covers CBC, FBS, HbA1c, Lipid Profile, HBsAg, kidney and liver function tests, Routine Urinalysis, ECG, 2D Echo, and Chest X-ray. This is a sold starting set of medical tests for men in their 20s who are trying to establish their first health baselines.
Silver Executive Check-up Package: This package adds a PSA test, Whole Abdomen Ultrasound and Thyroid Function Tests (TSH, FT3, FT4) to the Bronze Package. This is ideal for men in their 30s who need broader screening.
Gold Executive Check-up Package: The most comprehensive option, this package adds Calcium, Magnesium, and Pumonary Function Test (PFT) on top of everything that is in Silver Executive Check-up Package. This is best for men approaching 40 or those with a more complex health and family history. These are medical tests for men who want a more complete picture of their health in just one visit.
Unihealth Southwoods is accredited with 28 HMO providers including Maxicare, Medicard, Intellicare, Insular Health Care, and PhilCare. To learn more about how to use your HMO during your visit to Unihealth Southwoods, you can check out our HMO Insurance Guide page here.
Book Your Men’s Health Check-up at Unihealth Southwoods
Being a healthy man isn’t about being invincible. It is about being wise enough to take action before a condition even takes root. Medical tests for men are not just a one-time box to tick, they are a lifelong commitment to yourself, your career, and everyone who loves you and depends on you.
At Unihealth Southwoods, we offer laboratory services, radiology ,cardiology, diabetes care, eye care, psychiatry, dermatology, and specialized consultations, everything you need for thorough medical tests for men, all under one hospital close to home.
Do not wait until something feels wrong. If you live in Biñan, Cabuyao, Santa Rosa or nearby towns in Laguna, Cavite. And Southern Metro Manila, schedule your medical tests or check-up at Unihealth Southwoods Hospital today.
Unihealth Southwoods Hospital and Medical Center
Lot 3 Blk 11 Southwoods Ecocentrum Business Park, Brgy. San Francisco, Biñan City, Laguna
Trunkline: (02) 8898-9700 | (02) 8861-6386 | (02) 8775-2861
Email: ushmc.customerservice@gmail.com
Facebook: @UnihealthSouthwoods | Instagram: @unihealth_southwoods
Important Reminder: This guide is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. DO NOT self-diagnose. For proper diagnosis and treatment of dengue, please consult a licensed physician.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How often should I schedule medical tests or check-ups if I feel perfectly healthy?
Feeling healthy does not mean you are free from underlying conditions. Many serious illnesses, including hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and early-stage cancers, show no symptoms until advanced stages. Most routine medical tests for men should be done annually or every 2 to 3 years, depending on your age, risk factors, and your doctor’s recommendation.
Are STI tests really confidential? Can my employer or family find out?
Yes, all STI test results are strictly confidential under Philippine medical ethics and law. Healthcare providers are prohibited from disclosing your results to anyone — including employers without your explicit consent. There is no reason to delay STI screening out of fear of exposure. Protecting your health is always the right and responsible choice.
Can I use PhilHealth or my HMO card for my medical tests at Unihealth Southwoods?
Yes. Unihealth Southwoods is a PhilHealth-accredited facility and is accredited with 28 major HMO providers. Coverage for specific tests and packages varies depending on your plan, so we recommend confirming your benefits with your HR department or HMO provider prior to your visit. Our HMO Department is also available to assist you Monday to Saturday, 7AM to 8PM.
Can I ask for a mental health screening or depression test even if I have not been diagnosed with anything?
Absolutely, and you should. Mental health screenings do not require a prior diagnosis or a visible crisis to be valid. They are preventive tools, just like a blood pressure check or cholesterol test. If you have been feeling consistently off, burned out, or emotionally flat, that alone is reason enough to speak with a psychiatrist. Early conversations lead to earlier, more effective support.
At what age should Filipino men seriously start prioritizing annual check-ups?
Ideally from age 20, but your 30s are the critical turning point. This is when lifestyle-related conditions like hypertension, prediabetes, and high cholesterol begin silently developing. Waiting until symptoms appear often means the condition has already progressed. Starting annual check-ups in your 20s gives your doctor years of baseline data to detect any meaningful changes early.