Published on Jun 19, 2026

Half of deaths in Australian males under 75 are considered potentially avoidable — and among those deaths, coronary heart disease, suicide and bowel cancer are leading contributors. That’s a confronting number, but it also carries a hopeful message: when men get checked earlier, ask better questions and follow up on small warning signs, many serious health problems can be picked up sooner.
Men’s Health Week is not about shaming blokes into becoming perfect health machines. It’s about making health feel less awkward, less confusing and less easy to put off.
In 2026, Men’s Health Week in Australia runs from 15–21 June, with a focus on the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of men and boys. It’s also a timely reminder that many Australian men still wait too long before speaking to a doctor when something changes. Research shared by Western Sydney University and Healthy Male for Men’s Health Week 2026 found that about two-thirds of Australian men delay seeing a doctor when symptoms arise.
That “she’ll be right” delay is exactly where routine blood tests can help.
Not every man needs every blood test. And no, a “full blood panel” is not a magic health crystal ball. But the right blood tests, ordered for the right reason, can help detect risk factors for heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, liver problems, hormonal issues, anaemia, sexually transmitted infections and prostate concerns — sometimes before you feel especially unwell.
In this no-shame guide, we’ll walk through the men’s health blood tests Aussie men often skip, when to ask for them, what they can and can’t tell you, and how a blood test referral online or telehealth referral may help when getting to a clinic is the thing holding you back.
This article is general information for adults in Australia and does not replace personalised medical advice. If you have severe chest pain, stroke-like symptoms, sudden testicular pain, severe shortness of breath, heavy bleeding, suicidal thoughts, or feel seriously unwell, call 000 or seek urgent in-person care.
Let’s be honest: most men do not wake up thinking, “Can’t wait to check my lipids today.”
Blood tests are easy to avoid because the barriers are practical and emotional. You might be busy. You might not have a regular GP. You might feel fine. You might be worried the results will show something scary. Or you might simply not know what to ask for.
There’s also a cultural piece. Plenty of Australian men grew up hearing some version of “don’t complain”, “toughen up”, or “it’s probably nothing”. That mindset can be useful when you’re finishing a job in the rain or getting through a rough week — but it can be risky when symptoms are your body’s early warning system.
Blood tests are not about weakness. They are about information.
Think of them like checking the oil, tyre pressure and warning lights in your car. You don’t wait for smoke to pour out of the bonnet before you care. Your body deserves at least the same level of maintenance as your ute, bike, laptop or footy tipping spreadsheet.
It can be tempting to request every blood test available, especially if you’ve seen “biohacking” content online. But unnecessary testing can lead to false alarms, anxiety, repeat tests, incidental findings and sometimes treatments you didn’t need.
Good preventive health is not about ordering the longest list. It’s about matching tests to your age, symptoms, risk factors, family history, medications, sexual history and goals. The RACGP’s preventive health guidance emphasises evidence-based screening, shared decision-making and avoiding tests that are unlikely to help low-risk people.
So when you ask a doctor for blood tests in Australia, try not to say, “Can I have everything?” A better question is:
"“Based on my age, symptoms, family history and risk factors, which blood tests are actually useful for me?”"
That one sentence can change the whole consultation.
Heart disease is still one of the biggest reasons men need to take blood tests seriously. The AIHW reports that coronary heart disease was the leading cause of death for Australian males in 2023, and it was also the leading cause of potentially avoidable deaths in males under 75.
The tricky thing? You usually can’t feel high cholesterol.
You can feel chest pain, breathlessness or fatigue when heart disease is advanced. But the risk factors often build quietly for years. That’s where a lipid profile comes in.
A lipid profile usually measures:
Your doctor looks at these alongside other risk factors such as age, blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, kidney disease, family history and sometimes postcode-based risk factors. The Australian CVD risk approach uses multiple variables rather than cholesterol alone, because your overall risk matters more than one number in isolation.
The Heart Foundation says a Heart Health Check can help people understand their risk of heart attack or stroke over the next five years, and notes eligibility from 45 years and over, or from 30 years for First Nations peoples. It also points out that many people do not know their risk because high blood pressure and cholesterol often have no obvious symptoms.
You may want to ask earlier if you:
For more practical lifestyle foundations that support heart and metabolic health, you may also like our NextClinic blog post on 7 ways to optimise your daily health routine.
Type 2 diabetes can creep up quietly. You might feel tired, thirsty, foggy or notice you’re urinating more often — or you might feel completely normal.
Two common blood tests used in diabetes screening are:
The Australian Government’s AUSDRISK tool estimates a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes over the next five years. It can be completed by individuals or health professionals, and high scores may indicate eligibility for further diabetes risk evaluation in specific age groups.
RACGP guidance recommends using a validated screening tool such as AUSDRISK, and screening asymptomatic adults at high risk of type 2 diabetes with fasting blood glucose or HbA1c every three years; people with impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance may need yearly testing.
Ask about blood glucose or HbA1c if you:
For many men, this is one of the most useful “baseline” checks because diabetes risk overlaps with heart, kidney, sexual and energy problems.
Your kidneys filter waste, balance fluid, regulate salts and support blood pressure control. But chronic kidney disease can be sneaky. The RACGP notes that people can remain largely symptom-free until a significant amount of kidney function is lost.
Kidney checks often include:
This is a good example of why “blood tests” sometimes need a urine test too. A blood test can estimate kidney function, but urine albumin can pick up early kidney damage that may not show clearly on blood results.
Kidney Health Australia describes a Kidney Health Check as including a blood test for kidney function, a urine test for albumin or blood, and a blood pressure test. It also says people without risk factors generally do not need a Kidney Health Check unless their doctor has another reason.
Ask about kidney checks if you have:
RACGP preventive guidance notes that kidney testing with eGFR, creatinine and albumin-to-creatinine ratio is included as part of cardiovascular risk assessment and routine monitoring for conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, established cardiovascular disease, obesity and smoking.
A lot of men assume liver tests are only relevant if they drink heavily. Alcohol can certainly affect the liver, but it is not the only issue.
Liver function tests, often called LFTs, can help assess enzymes, proteins and bilirubin related to liver health. They may be ordered when a doctor is checking possible fatty liver disease, hepatitis, alcohol-related liver injury, medication effects, bile duct problems or unexplained symptoms.
Healthdirect explains that liver investigation may involve blood tests and imaging such as ultrasound or FibroScan, depending on the situation.
A doctor may consider LFTs if you:
One important point: normal liver blood tests do not always rule out liver disease, and abnormal results do not always mean permanent damage. Results need context. Exercise, medications, alcohol, viral illness and other factors can shift numbers. Your doctor may repeat tests, add hepatitis screening, or arrange imaging depending on the pattern.
Fatigue is one of the most common reasons people ask for blood tests. It is also one of the most complex symptoms because it can come from sleep, stress, depression, overtraining, infection, anaemia, thyroid disease, diabetes, kidney problems, alcohol, medication, low iron, low B12 and many other causes.
A full blood count, also called FBC, CBC or FBE, checks red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Healthdirect explains that it can help detect anaemia, infections, blood disorders and clotting problems, and is often used as part of a routine health check.
Iron studies look at iron stores and iron transport. Healthdirect notes that iron deficiency can cause fatigue and poor concentration, and that an iron studies blood test is the reliable way to tell if someone is iron deficient.
Ask a doctor if you have:
Iron deficiency in men should not be brushed off. While diet can play a role, doctors may also need to consider blood loss from the gastrointestinal tract or other causes, especially if anaemia is present.
This is where a simple blood test can become a useful doorway into a bigger health conversation.
Sexual health is men’s health. Full stop.
Many sexually transmitted infections cause no symptoms, especially early on. That means you can feel fine and still benefit from testing.
A routine STI check may involve:
The Australian Government’s STI testing guidance says testing is usually done through a simple urine or blood test, that general STI tests include syphilis and HIV screening, and that anyone sexually active should get regular sexual health check-ups and an STI test every 6 to 12 months. It also recommends more frequent sexual health check-ups for sexually active men who have sex with men.
ASHM’s Australian STI Management Guidelines also note updated recommendations that HIV and syphilis testing should be included whenever STI testing is indicated.
Ask for STI testing if:
And yes, you can ask without embarrassment. Doctors hear these conversations every day.
If you are unsure about timing, window periods or what to test for after a new partner, we’ve written more in STI Window Periods: Test Timing Made Simple and New Relationship? When You Should Actually Get an STI Test.
The PSA test measures prostate-specific antigen in the blood. It can be useful in assessing prostate cancer risk, but it is not a simple “cancer yes or no” test.
Cancer Council Australia explains that there is no simple test to find prostate cancer, and that PSA blood testing and digital rectal examination can show changes in the prostate but do not diagnose prostate cancer on their own. If PSA is higher than expected, a GP will usually repeat the test and may consider further investigation.
This is why PSA testing should involve shared decision-making. It can help detect cancers earlier, but it can also lead to false positives, anxiety, biopsies and detection of cancers that may never have caused harm.
Cancer Council Australia says men with no family history of prostate cancer may consider PSA testing every two years from age 50 to 69, while people with higher risk may need a different conversation earlier.
Ask a doctor about PSA testing if you:
A PSA test should not be treated like an add-on tick box. It deserves a proper explanation.
Testosterone testing is one of the most talked-about men’s health blood tests online. It is also one of the easiest to misunderstand.
Low testosterone can be associated with symptoms such as low libido, fewer morning erections, erectile dysfunction, low energy, reduced muscle mass, low mood and infertility. But those symptoms can also be caused by sleep problems, stress, depression, alcohol, medication, relationship issues, thyroid disease, diabetes, obesity, overtraining and many other factors.
RACGP guidance on male androgen disorders says the initial diagnostic test for suspected androgen deficiency is a fasting morning total testosterone in men with consistent symptoms and signs. It also notes that testosterone varies throughout the day and between tests, so a low result generally needs repeat confirmation.
Ask a doctor if you have persistent symptoms such as:
Do not start testosterone treatment based on a single afternoon result, a social media checklist or a gym mate’s advice. Testosterone therapy can affect fertility, red blood cell count, prostate monitoring and cardiovascular risk discussions. It needs proper medical assessment.
If erectile issues are part of the reason you’re thinking about hormones, you might also find our article Is It ED or Just Nerves? 3 Myths Stopping You From Performing helpful.
Men can absolutely have thyroid disease, even though it is often discussed more in women’s health spaces.
A thyroid function test usually checks TSH and sometimes free T4 or free T3. Healthdirect explains that thyroid function blood tests measure thyroid hormone levels and may be used when someone has symptoms of an underactive or overactive thyroid.
Symptoms that may prompt thyroid testing include:
But routine thyroid testing in completely well adults is not always helpful. RACGP “First do no harm” guidance advises avoiding routine thyroid function testing in well adults without a clear indication.
So the balanced message is: don’t ignore symptoms, but don’t test randomly just because you’re tired after a big month at work.
Australia has plenty of sun, but vitamin D deficiency still happens — especially in winter, in people who avoid sun exposure, people with darker skin, people who cover most skin for cultural or medical reasons, shift workers, older adults, and people with certain gut, liver or kidney conditions.
A vitamin D test measures vitamin D levels in the blood. But again, more testing is not automatically better.
RACGP guidance says population screening for vitamin D deficiency in older adults is not recommended, while testing high-risk groups is appropriate. Cancer Council Australia similarly notes that vitamin D testing is recommended for those at risk of deficiency, but routine screening of healthy adults is not recommended by the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia.
Ask if you:
Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes, supplementation or testing depending on your risk.
If you’re not sure what to say, try one of these:
"“I’m using Men’s Health Week as a prompt to finally check my risks. What blood tests make sense for my age and history?”"
"“My dad had heart disease early. Should I have cholesterol, diabetes or kidney checks?”"
"“I’ve been feeling unusually tired for a few months. Could we check common causes like anaemia, thyroid, diabetes, kidney and liver issues if appropriate?”"
"“I’ve had a new sexual partner and want a routine STI screen, including HIV and syphilis.”"
"“I’m 52 and want to understand whether PSA testing is right for me.”"
"“I’m having low libido and erectile issues. Should we check testosterone, diabetes, cholesterol or other possible causes?”"
Notice the pattern: you are not demanding random tests. You are giving the doctor context.
That makes it much easier for them to order what is clinically appropriate and explain why some tests may not be needed.
Yes, in many situations you can request a blood test referral online through telehealth, as long as a doctor decides it is clinically appropriate.
At NextClinic, we offer online blood test and pathology referrals for adults in Australia. You complete a private online form, an AHPRA-registered Australian doctor reviews your request, calls if they need more information, and if appropriate issues a pathology referral online. You can then take the referral to a pathology lab in Australia.
This can be useful if:
Our doctors still make clinical decisions. That means we may not order a test if it is unsafe, inappropriate or unlikely to help. If something needs urgent hands-on assessment, we’ll point you toward in-person care.
A telehealth referral can remove friction, but it does not remove clinical judgement — and that’s a good thing.
The blood draw is only half the story. The real value is in interpretation and follow-up.
After your test, ask:
At NextClinic, pathology results can be returned through the usual lab processes, and our result process explains how results are released and reviewed when they arrive.
If a result is abnormal, don’t panic-Google yourself into a spiral. Mild abnormalities are common and may need repeating or interpreting in context. On the other hand, don’t ignore abnormal results either. The follow-up is where prevention becomes action.
A strong men’s health check may also include:
For example, bowel cancer screening is not a blood test, but it is a major preventive health measure for eligible Australians. Skin cancer checks are also critical in Australia and cannot be replaced by a blood test.
So if you’re building a “men’s health blood tests” checklist, keep it as part of a bigger health plan — not the whole plan.
If you want a practical starting point, here’s a no-drama checklist to discuss with a doctor.
Consider asking about:
No shame. No panic. Just a smarter conversation.
Telehealth is convenient, but some situations need in-person assessment.
Please seek urgent or face-to-face care if you have:
Blood tests help answer questions. They are not a substitute for emergency care when your body is waving a red flag.
Men’s Health Week is a useful reminder, but your health does not only matter for one week in June.
The pivotal insights are simple:
So here’s the challenge: this week, choose one blood test conversation you’ve been putting off.
Maybe it’s cholesterol. Maybe it’s HbA1c. Maybe it’s an STI screen. Maybe it’s finally asking about PSA because you’re in your 50s. Maybe it’s talking honestly about fatigue, libido or erectile changes instead of pretending they’re not happening.
If you need a doctor-led blood test referral online and it’s clinically appropriate, we can help at NextClinic with telehealth referrals across Australia. And if you’re not sure what you need, start with the question: “What checks make sense for me?”
Which strategy will you apply this week — booking a check-up, asking for a specific blood test, starting an STI screen, or helping a mate do the same? Share your chosen step or results in the comments.
Q: Why are routine blood tests important for men?
They detect hidden risk factors for conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and kidney issues before serious symptoms appear.
Q: Should I ask my doctor for a 'full blood panel'?
No. Unnecessary testing can cause false alarms. Tests should be tailored to your age, symptoms, family history, and risk factors.
Q: When should I get my cholesterol checked?
Generally from age 45 (or 30 for First Nations peoples), or earlier if you have risk factors like smoking, high blood pressure, or a family history of heart disease.
Q: How do I check for diabetes?
Ask for a fasting blood glucose or HbA1c test, especially if you are 40+, overweight, or have a family history of type 2 diabetes.
Q: Do I need an STI test if I have no symptoms?
Yes. Many STIs have no symptoms. Sexually active individuals should get a routine check every 6 to 12 months.
Q: Should all men get PSA (prostate) and testosterone tests?
No. PSA testing should be a shared decision with your doctor, typically between ages 50-69. Testosterone should only be tested if you have consistent, specific symptoms.
Q: Can I get a blood test referral online in Australia?
Yes. Telehealth services can provide online pathology referrals if an assessing doctor determines the tests are clinically appropriate.
Need a blood test referral?
Talk to a doctor