Men’s health is just as important as women’s health. Seems like common sense, right?

Well, this article is inspired by a Google search that, anecdotally, seems to put men in a box. My search for “men’s health concerns” reveals a bunch of online resources about prostate health…but men are much more than just their prostates!

 So let’s look at the 9 lab tests we’d recommend for a guy who hasn’t been to the doctor recently (or regularly—read more about that here). Men’s health is different than women’s, but merits attention too!

9 Men’s Health Labs to Ask Your Doctor About

If you haven’t been to the doctor in awhile, these 9 labs are top priority:

Testosterone Cascade + Estrogen + DHT

Okay, so these are related to prostate health, which is important. DHT works in combination with estrogen to lead towards prostate enlargement. Normal DHT levels prevent estrogen levels from becoming too high, and can maintain prostate health.

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel

This is a group of 14 laboratory tests ordered to give information about the current status of your liver, kidneys, and electrolyte and acid/base balance. It also provides the current status of blood sugar and blood proteins.

Complete Blood Count

CBC is a group of tests that evaluate the cells that circulate in blood, including red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets (PLTs). The CBC can evaluate your overall health and detect a variety of diseases and conditions, such as infections, anemia and leukemia.

NMR Lipids

This directly measures the amount of LDL circulating in the body. LDL is low-density lipoprotein and has long been recognized as a major causal factor in the development of heart disease. 

hs-CRP

The High-sensitivity C-reactive protein test is a blood test that finds lower levels of C-reactive protein (CRP). This protein measures general levels of inflammation in your body. The hs-CRP can be used to find the risk for heart disease and stroke in people who don’t already have heart disease.

Fasting Insulin

The insulin fasting blood test is chiefly used as a test insulin levels and to diagnoses diabetes and insulin resistance.

Hemoglobin A1c

The hemoglobin A1c test tells you your average level of blood sugar over the past 2 to 3 months. It’s commonly used to diagnose diabetes and pre-diabetes.

Thyroid Hormones

By measuring levels of thyroid hormones in the blood, a men’s health thyroid panel can help diagnose thyroid disorders and disrupted thyroid function. 

Morning Cortisol

Cortisol levels vary throughout the day, but they’re usually highest in the morning. Above-normal or below-average levels of AM (or PM) cortisol can indicate sub-optimal adrenal function.

Other Tests to Consider for Men’s Health

Depending on your age, and other risk factors, we’d also want to check up on screening exams, like:

• bone density,
• colonoscopy, and
• Coronary Calcium Scan. 

Much like women, men’s hormones change as we age which can put them in different categories for risk factors—for example, low testosterone can put them at higher risk for high cholesterol and atherosclerosis. 

Regardless of your age and health history, we at MIMC can personalize treatment plans for men’s health, based on your goals and lab results, as well as family history.

Sound like a workup is for you? Give us a call to schedule your appointment and start your men’s health journey.

Dr. Cassie Wilder

Dr. Cassie Wilder is a registered Naturopathic Medical Doctor (NMD) and founder of MIMC. Her passion is empowering her patients through education, understanding, and support through their healing journey. After graduating from Iowa State University with a Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology and Health, Dr. Wilder earned her Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences, a fully accredited and nationally recognized institution in Phoenix, AZ. During her clinical training, she received extensive hands-on training with many leading experts in the field of functional medicine and developed a passion for treating hormonal imbalances, thyroid disorders, cardiovascular concerns, and adrenal fatigue.