Your 30s are a nice moment for a baseline: you usually still feel fine, and that's exactly when a reference point is valuable. Often-mentioned values are your testosterone, your vitamin D, your cholesterol and your blood sugar. A blood test gives a snapshot, not a prediction.
My honest take: a baseline in your 30s is mainly handy because you can compare later. One value says less than a value you watch move over time.
Why a baseline in your 30s?
From age 30 your testosterone starts to dip slightly on average, by about 1% a year (Harman, 2001). Your cholesterol and blood sugar can also shift gradually. A reading now gives you a reference point for later, without having to act on it immediately.
Which values give a picture?
Often interesting: testosterone, vitamin D, iron, cholesterol and blood sugar. Which are useful for you depends on your symptoms, lifestyle and family history. No single value is a diagnosis on its own.
Often tired? See the pillar always tired as a man.
What do you do with the result?
Discuss notable values with your GP. Often nothing is wrong, and then you have a nice reference point. See also how often men have their blood tested.
Getting started
The Complete Men's Health Panel brings a number of these values together for a baseline.
References
- Harman SM, et al. Longitudinal effects of aging on serum total and free testosterone levels in healthy men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001;86(2):724-731. PMID: 11158037.
- RIVM (National Institute for Public Health). Men's health in the Netherlands: background.
- NHG-Standaard Cardiovascular risk management (biology). Dutch College of General Practitioners.
Disclaimer
Caliberhealth works with BIG-registered doctors who assess your blood results. This article gives general information and is not a substitute for medical advice from a GP or specialist. A blood test is a tool, not a diagnosis in itself. For serious symptoms, contact your GP, or in an emergency call 112.
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