Health checks by age: are you up to date?

Updated July 2024 | 5 min read
Words by Health Agenda team

Your guide to staying on top of your health with the right screening checks for every life stage and age.

When it comes to your health, prevention is better than cure. Screening programs are designed for people who aren’t showing any signs or symptoms. So even if you feel healthy, it’s wise to keep up-to-date with your check-ups. 

That said, it’s important that you also keep an eye on your body and visit your GP if you see any changes like a lump, new mole, sudden weight loss or change in bowel habits.

These recommendations refer to health checks for the general population, but if you have specific risk factors – or a family history of a particular condition – be sure to seek individual advice from your GP.

Health checks for all ages

Melanoma/skin cancer

Who: Everyone.

When: Check your skin regularly.

What: GPs can do a skin check to look for skin cancer or may refer you to a dermatologist (a specialist doctor who diagnoses and treats skin conditions). It’s also recommended you check your own skin regularly as it’s important to get to know your skin and what’s normal for you, so you notice any new spots or changes to existing freckles or moles.

Cancer Council recommends undressing completely so you can check your entire body. Use good light and a hand mirror during self-checks to examine existing and new moles, freckles and spots for flaking, bleeding, crusting, weeping, or ulceration (skin that looks like an open sore). Look for changes in colour and shape, or spots that appear dry, scaly, pearly, pale red, lumpy, or feel itchy or appear inflamed.

Ask a family member to help you self-check your skin by inspecting areas you can’t see, like shoulders, back, ears and scalp. Remember to check your lips, palms, soles of the feet, between fingers and toes (and under nails). To look out for melanoma, the Cancer Council of NSW recommends the ABCDE system. Check for:

• asymmetry
• border irregularity
• colour combinations (e.g black/blue)
• diameter changes
• evolving spots

See your GP right away if you notice any changes.

Dental health

Who: Everyone.

When: Every six to 12 months or based on your dentist’s advice, as recommended by the Australian Dental Association NSW.

What: Dental check-up. Poor dental health increases your risk of dental cavities and contributes to gum disease, which is linked to heart disease and other health issues. So practise good oral hygiene and see your dentist and dental hygienist for regular checks, as well as scale and cleans to remove plaque from teeth.

Health checks for teens and 20s

Cervical cancer

Who: Women who are aged 25 to 74 (and have a cervix), or women who are, or have been, sexually active, should have cervical screening, according to the Department of Health. Register with the National Cervical Screening Program, and get reminders when your next test is due.

When: Every five years.

What: Cervical screening test. In 2017, the Pap smear test was replaced with a new human papillomavirus (HPV) test. To detect cervical cancer a doctor or nurse removes a small sample of cervical cells with a long, thin swab. These cells are placed on a glass slide that’s then sent to a lab where the cells are analysed for signs of HPV infection (which can cause cervical cancer in some women). While the Pap test looked for cell changes, the current cervical screening test looks for HPV and, if it’s present, checks cells to detect any changes.

Health checks for 30s and 40s

Testicular cancer

Who: The incidence rate for testicular cancer is highest in men aged 30 to 34.

When: Self exams are recommended once a month by Better Health Channel.

What: Located behind a man’s penis, in a pouch called the scrotum, are two glands called the testes, which normally feel firm and smooth. Testicle self-examination is important to check for testicular cancer, because it can have a very good treatment outcome if found early. See your doctor if you notice any changes, like a hard lump – the most common sign of testicular cancer, which often only occurs in one testicle.

Heart disease

Who: People over 45 (or over 30 if Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander).

When: Every two years according to the Heart Foundation.

What: A Heart Health Check. During this exam, your GP will discuss your diet, exercise, family history and heart health risks, like smoking or obesity. Your blood pressure will be checked and your doctor will order blood and urine tests. They’ll be looking out for high blood pressure, high cholesterol or kidney disease.

Diabetes type 2

Who: Everyone from 40 years of age (or 18 if Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander).

When: Every three years according to the Department of Health.

What: AUSDRISK: This questionnaire, which you can fill in yourself or with your doctor or nurse, assesses your risk of developing type 2 diabetes over the next five years. If you get a ‘high’ score, ask your GP if you’re eligible for a special type 2 diabetes risk evaluation. You’re at higher risk if you have:

• an AUSDRISK score of 12 or more
• cardiovascular disease  
• a history of gestational diabetes   
• polycystic ovaries
• a history of prescribed antipsychotic drugs.

Do doctors test for diabetes during check-ups? Sometimes, depending on your symptoms and risks. Discuss your family and personal health history with your GP, who can advise how often you should have a fasting blood glucose test. This involves an overnight fast followed by a morning blood test to check your blood glucose levels.

Bowel cancer

Who: The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program is free for Aussies aged 45 to 74.

When: At least every two years according to the Cancer Council.

What: Faecal occult blood test (FOBT). Almost 90% of bowel cancer cases can be successfully treated when detected early. So, when you turn 45, the government will send you a Bowel Cancer Screening Test kit in the mail. Using this, you provide stool samples from two or three bowel motions. The National Bowel Screening Program offers a quick ‘how to’ video on using the test. After you’ve collected the samples, you pop them in a reply-paid Australia Post envelope, and they’re sent to a special lab to be analysed.

The FOBT can detect even microscopic amounts of blood in your stool, which could be a sign of bowel cancer. If any traces of blood are found, your doctor may order more tests, like a colonoscopy. It can also be helpful to learn more about bowel cancer prevention, so that you can make lifestyle changes to reduce your risk.

Health checks for 50s

Breast cancer

Who: Women aged 50 to 74 qualify for a free mammogram through BreastScreen Australia. Women aged 40 to 49, and over 74, can also be screened free of charge, on request.

When: Every two years or more often, depending on your family history and health risks, according to BreastScreen Australia.

What: Mammogram. Each breast is pressed between two X-ray plates, which spread the breast tissue out so that clear pictures can be taken to detect any changes that could be signs of cancer. Mammograms can pick up very small lumps and breast changes. If you have risk factors for breast cancer, like family or personal history of breast or ovarian cancer, ask your GP if you need more frequent screening.

At home, check your breasts once a month, palpating gently all over your breasts and under the arms so you get to know how they normally look and feel. If you notice any breast changes, see your doctor.

Bone density

Who: Healthy Bones Australia recommends a bone density scan for men and women over 50 with risk factors, like low body weight. People under 50 with other risk factors, like long corticosteroid medication use, premature menopause and excessive alcohol intake, should also have a bone density scan.

When: As recommended by your GP.

What: Bone density DXA scan. This takes 10 to 15 minutes and measures the density of your bones using low-dose x-rays, usually at the hip and spine. During the scan you lie flat on a padded table while a large scanning arm will slowly pass over your body to measure bone density in the centre of your skeleton.

Medicare may make a contribution to a bone density scan if you meet specific criteria. Speak to your GP to find out about any symptoms you may have for this criteria. Otherwise, you may have out-of-pocket costs to pay, as medical and health practitioners, including diagnostic imaging providers, are free to set their own fees for the services they provide.

Prostate cancer

Who: Mostly men aged 50+.

When: As medical opinion is divided about the pros and cons of screening regularly for prostate cancer, there’s no national screening program in Australia. This means every man needs to make a decision about screening, based on factors like family history, ongoing health risks and GP advice. You should also consult your doctor if you develop any possible symptoms of prostate cancer, including pain or difficulty when urinating or blood in urine or semen.

What: Digital rectal examination (DRE) – your doctor gently inserts a gloved finger into the rectum to feel the prostate gland for any signs of change, like a hardened area or change in shape of the gland. If your doctor believes further testing is warranted, they might also order a prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test, as an elevated PSA can sometimes indicate cancer.

Health checks for 60s

Visual and hearing impairment

Who: Everyone aged 65+.

When: Eye tests every one to two years, hearing tests every year.

What:  Eye tests and tests for hearing loss. Without optimal vision and hearing, we lose the nuances of a sunset and conversation. So, changes to these senses should be detected early to minimise their impact on your everyday life.

To assess your vision, your GP will use a Snellen chart (the large chart with letters decreasing in size). To check for hearing loss, your GP will ask questions to determine if your hearing is declining and may send you for hearing tests.

For a quick online hearing check, you can also use the Connect Hearing Speech Perception Test. It takes five minutes and gives you a result right away.

Through our partnership with Connect Hearing, you could get up to 100% back^* or a reduced cost on a range of high-quality hearing aids (one every three years).

You can also access free online tools to better understand your hearing. To find out more go to Connect Hearing or call 1800 693 277.

On-the-spot health checks at the GP

Your doctor can do the following quick checks during a consultation:

• Body Mass Index (BMI). A healthy weight range is 18.5 to 24.99.
• Waist measurement to check for visceral fat. A waistline of more than 80 cm (for women) and 94 cm (for men) could increase the risk of health issues.  
• Blood pressure (BP). This should be checked from age 45. Your GP will attach an inflatable cuff, usually to the upper part of your arm, to measure your BP. Normal blood pressure is around 120/80. Your GP will let you know if you need any follow-up tests.
• Urine dipstick tests. After you give a urine sample, these can be used to check if there’s evidence of issues like a urinary tract infection, assess your blood glucose levels, or check kidney function. If results are not normal, your GP will order follow-up tests. 
• Mental health. There are many different questionnaires your GP can give you to assess your depression and/or anxiety levels. The DASS-21 and K10 checklists are commonly used, but there are also mental health surveys tailored more to specific cultural backgrounds and issues, like postnatal depression.
  

Pre-pregnancy health checks

Planning a pregnancy? Before you try to conceive, see your GP to have a:

1. full medical check and women’s health check.
2. blood test to check your vitamin D levels, antibodies to German measles (rubella), chickenpox – if low or not detected, your doctor may suggest a vaccine top-up and rhesus factor, an inherited protein, that could affect your baby.
3. discussion about lifestyle, including your diet, exercise, alcohol intake and any medications you’re taking, and taking a folic acid supplement, which can benefit your baby’s health.

Uncommon Care

When it comes to healthcare, people want to know they’ll be genuinely cared for in their time of need. There’s care – and then there’s Uncommon Care.

Why? Because as Australia’s largest not-for-profit health fund, we put people before profit. That means our members are at the heart of everything we do and we put their health before anything else.