In your 50s a lot changes at once: your testosterone is lower on average than at 30, your cardiovascular risk rises and your prostate slowly grows in many men. Blood values like testosterone, cholesterol and PSA give a picture of that.
No scaremongering: many of these changes are normal. The point is that you can track them instead of waiting.
What changes hormonally?
Your testosterone drops gradually on average from age 30 (Harman, 2001), and in your 50s some men notice it in energy, muscle strength and drive. It's rarely a sharp drop, more a slow shift. See also penopause: does male menopause actually exist?
Where do your heart and prostate come in?
Cardiovascular risk rises with age, so cholesterol and blood sugar become more relevant. PSA is also something some men discuss with their GP from 50. What fits is a personal choice with your doctor, not an automatic step.
There's more on the prostate in PSA levels by age.
What do you do with the result?
Discuss your values with your GP, who assesses the whole. See also men's health after 40 and cholesterol in men.
Getting started
The Men Over 40 Panel is geared to this life stage and brings hormones, heart and prostate together.
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.
- NHG-Standaard Cardiovascular risk management (biology). Dutch College of General Practitioners.
- Dutch Heart Foundation (Hartstichting). Cardiovascular disease and age: background.
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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