- Many chronic diseases remain silent before symptoms appear
- Malaysian men may delay screening until symptoms become obvious
- Abnormal results should be reviewed by a doctor rather than interpreted alone
- Use age, family history, lifestyle & symptoms to decide which tests are appropriate
- Men’s health screening checks key areas such as blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, hormones & selected cancers
Understanding Men’s Health Screening
Men’s health screening is a preventive medical assessment used to identify health risks or disease before complications develop. It is not one single test. A proper screening plan may combine physical examination, blood and urine tests, cardiovascular assessment, hormone evaluation and selected cancer screening.
Malaysia’s Men’s Health Plan of Action 2024–2030 specifically highlights screening and early detection as national priorities, including development of a dedicated men’s health screening package.
The important point is that screening should be risk-based, not simply “the more tests, the better”. For example, testosterone testing is useful when symptoms suggest testosterone deficiency, but routine population screening for hypogonadism is not recommended.
Read : 9 Common Mens Health Issue Among Malaysian (Latest Data)
Men’s Health Symptoms
Men’s health screening is often done before symptoms appear. However, persistent symptoms should trigger a medical assessment rather than waiting for the next routine screening.
Common warning signs include:
- Changes in bowel habits or blood in stool
- Increased waist circumference or weight gain
- Frequent urination, weak urine flow or blood in urine
- Low libido, erectile dysfunction or reduced morning erections
- Persistent fatigue, reduced stamina or unexplained weight change
- Chest discomfort, unusual breathlessness or reduced exercise tolerance
Read : Do You Need Weight Loss Pills? Deep Explanation (2026)
These symptoms are not specific to one disease. Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, hormonal disorders, urinary conditions and other medical problems can overlap.
Why Screening Matters for You?
The biggest problem is often not the test itself, but late detection.
High blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, impaired glucose control and early prostate disease may produce few symptoms. KKM guidance also places strong emphasis on cardiovascular risk assessment and dyslipidaemia management.
For cancer, screening is different from diagnostic testing. A screening test is intended for people who are generally well and have no obvious symptoms.
Men’s Health Screening
1. Physical & Vital Checks
A useful first step includes:
- Blood pressure
- Weight and BMI
- Waist circumference
- Heart rate
- General physical examination
These measurements help identify obesity, hypertension and cardiometabolic risk. Waist circumference is particularly useful because abdominal obesity is linked with metabolic and cardiovascular risk.
2. Blood & Urine Tests
Depending on age and risk factors, testing may include:
| Test | What it helps assess |
|---|---|
| Blood glucose / HbA1c | Diabetes and abnormal glucose control |
| Lipid profile | Cholesterol and cardiovascular risk |
| Liver function | Liver health and metabolic effects |
| Kidney function | Renal function and associated risk |
| Testosterone | Possible testosterone deficiency when clinically indicated |
| Urinalysis | Blood, protein, infection and other abnormalities |
A low testosterone result should not automatically be labelled hypogonadism. Clinical guidelines recommend compatible symptoms plus consistently low testosterone, usually confirmed with repeat morning testing.
Read : Testosterone Case Study : Patient Results & Recovery (2026)
3. Heart & Specialised Tests
An ECG records the heart’s electrical activity and may be useful when symptoms or cardiovascular risk indicate it.
A stress test is not automatically necessary for every healthy man. The decision depends on symptoms, risk profile and clinical assessment.
Hormone testing can be considered when symptoms such as low libido, erectile dysfunction, reduced energy or fertility concerns suggest an endocrine problem. Bone health assessment may also be relevant in selected older men or those with specific risk factors.
4. Cancer Screenings
Prostate cancer
PSA, or prostate-specific antigen, is a blood marker produced by the prostate. An elevated PSA does not mean cancer; benign prostate enlargement and other prostate conditions can also raise it.
EAU guidance recommends discussing early PSA testing with informed men according to age and risk. It generally suggests considering testing from around 50, earlier for men with higher-risk factors such as a strong family history.
A PSA result should therefore be interpreted with age, symptoms, family history and other clinical findings rather than as an isolated number.
Colorectal cancer
KKM guidance recommends colorectal cancer screening for average-risk adults from 50 to 75 years, with immunochemical faecal occult blood testing (iFOBT) as the preferred method. Higher-risk men may need earlier or more intensive assessment such as colonoscopy.
Lung cancer
Lung cancer screening is mainly relevant to selected high-risk individuals, particularly people with substantial smoking exposure. It should not be treated as a routine CT scan for every man.
Expected Results
A good screening programme should answer three questions:
1. Is everything within an expected range?
Continue preventive care and reassess according to age and risk.
2. Is something abnormal?
The result may need repeat testing, additional investigations or specialist referral.
3. Is there a pattern rather than one abnormal number?
This is often more clinically useful. For example, central obesity, high blood pressure, abnormal glucose and high cholesterol together may indicate increased metabolic risk.
Screening is therefore about risk identification and early action, not simply collecting laboratory numbers.
“The reality is, many men only get checked when something starts affecting their lives. From a doctor’s perspective, it’s better to spot the risks early, understand your numbers, and act before a small issue becomes a bigger one.”
— Dr. Rakesh Subbiah, Head of Doctors, SuamiSihat Clinic.
Clinical Procedure at SuamiSihat Clinic
At SuamiSihat Clinic, the men’s health pathway is structured around:
Assessment → targeted screening → result explanation → personalised management → follow-up.
The clinic describes a confidential assessment of symptoms, medical history and lifestyle, followed by relevant investigations such as blood work, hormone panels, urine tests, semen analysis or other targeted screening when clinically appropriate.
Results are then reviewed with the patient before a management plan is considered.
Importantly, treatment should follow the diagnosis. Depending on the findings, management may involve lifestyle intervention, medical treatment, fertility assessment, erectile dysfunction treatment or further hormonal evaluation rather than automatically prescribing testosterone or another therapy.
Read : 60% Low Testosterone Men Have High Cortisol | Malaysia Data
Malaysia is placing greater emphasis on men’s health screening because delayed presentation remains a clinical challenge. The national Men’s Health Plan of Action identifies lower screening uptake and delayed healthcare-seeking among men as important issues.
Dr Selvalingam Sothilingam, consultant urologist and former President of the Malaysian Urological Association, has highlighted that prostate cancer can remain silent in its early stages and that men with risk factors, particularly a relevant family history, may need earlier assessment. His urology work is associated with the Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya.
Dr Arnil George Sirimanne, consultant clinical oncologist, has likewise stressed that many Malaysian prostate cancer cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage and that proper urological evaluation is important when PSA or symptoms raise concern.
When To Seek A Doctor?
Do not wait for an annual screening appointment if you have persistent symptoms such as chest pain, unexplained breathlessness, blood in urine or stool, significant urinary changes, erectile dysfunction, major libido changes or unexplained weight loss.
For prostate cancer, delayed diagnosis can mean more advanced disease and more complex treatment. CodeBlue has reported that nearly three-quarters of Malaysian prostate cancer cases in the cited registry period were diagnosed at an advanced stage.
For hormone concerns, a single low testosterone result should also not be used to self-diagnose or start treatment. Proper confirmation and assessment of the underlying cause are essential.
FAQ We Received
Is men’s health screening necessary if I feel healthy?
Yes, because screening is designed to identify certain problems before symptoms appear. The exact tests should still depend on age, risk factors and personal history.
What age should Malaysian men start screening?
There is no single age for every test. Cardiometabolic screening may begin earlier depending on risk, while cancer screening follows disease-specific recommendations.
KKM colorectal guidance uses 50 years as the starting point for average-risk screening, while prostate PSA testing is more individualised according to age and risk.
Should every man test testosterone?
No. Testosterone testing is most useful when symptoms or clinical findings suggest possible testosterone deficiency. A diagnosis generally requires symptoms plus consistently low measurements, usually confirmed with repeat morning testing.
Does a high PSA mean prostate cancer?
No. PSA can be elevated for several reasons, including benign prostate enlargement and other prostate conditions. Further clinical assessment may be required.
Can I do one complete men’s health screening instead of several separate tests?
A comprehensive assessment can be practical, but there is no universal “one-size-fits-all” panel. The best screening plan is one that matches the man’s age, symptoms, family history, lifestyle and risk profile.
Read : Andropause: A Comprehensive Guide for Men in Malaysia
Conclusion
Men’s health screening is not about finding something to worry about. It is about finding risk early enough to do something about it.
For Malaysian men, the most useful approach combines physical measurements, metabolic testing, selected hormone evaluation, cardiovascular assessment and age- or risk-appropriate cancer screening.
A doctor should interpret abnormal results in context and decide whether repeat testing, further investigation or treatment is necessary.
References :
- Ministry of Health Malaysia, Malaysia Men’s Health Plan of Action 2024–2030: A Strategic Framework for Progress, 2025. Akses: KKM Men’s Health Plan 2024–2030
- Ministry of Health Malaysia, Clinical Practice Guidelines: Management of Dyslipidaemia, 6th Edition, 2023. Akses: KKM Dyslipidaemia CPG 2023
- Ministry of Health Malaysia, Management of Colorectal Carcinoma, 2017. Akses: KKM Colorectal Cancer Guidance
- European Association of Urology, EAU Guidelines on Prostate Cancer – Diagnostic Evaluation, 2025. Akses: EAU Prostate Cancer Guidelines
- The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Testosterone Therapy in Men With Hypogonadism: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline, 17-03-2018. Akses: JCEM Testosterone Guideline
- CodeBlue, Busting Prostate Cancer Myths: Facts Malaysian Men Should Know For Early Detection, Better Outcomes, 22-12-2025. Akses: CodeBlue prostate cancer article
This article had been written & reviewed by:
Dr. Rakesh A/L Subbiah
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Obstetrics, National University of Ireland.
Dr. Rakesh Subbiah is the Head Doctors & Wellness at SuamiSihat Clinic. Registered under Malaysia Medical Council (MMC) with number 51375.
