Putting Off Your Men's Health Checkup Is Riskier Than the Visit

He will drive four hours for a hockey tournament, rebuild a deck over a long weekend, and spend an evening researching the right drill. The 15-minute appointment with his doctor, meanwhile, has been sitting on his to-do list since 2022.

Movember starts this Sunday, and behind the moustaches sits a set of Canadian numbers that deserve more attention than the facial hair. More than two in five Canadian men die before age 75, many from causes that are largely preventable, and the simplest place to start changing that is a men's health checkup booked this month. Whether you are the man who keeps putting it off or the person who loves him, this guide covers what the visit involves and how to get it on the calendar.

Key takeaways

About 44 percent of men in Canada who died in 2023 were under 75, almost 75,000 men, according to the Movember Institute of Men's Health.

Men in Canada die before 75 at a rate about 1.4 times that of women, mostly from causes that can be prevented or caught early.

In a Movember poll of 1,502 Canadian men, 45 percent agreed that it is normal for men to avoid regular health checkups.

Men are almost three times as likely as women to die by suicide, and the 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline answers calls and texts across Canada at any hour.

A basic checkup covers blood pressure, weight, mood, and daily habits, then adds blood work and cancer screening as you get older.

Why do so many Canadian men die before 75?

The Movember Institute of Men's Health launched its Real Face of Men's Health report for Canada with partners at the University of British Columbia, and its headline figure is hard to shake. In 2023, almost 75,000 men in Canada died before age 75, the line the report uses for a premature death, which works out to 44 per cent of all the men who died that year. The leading causes were cancer, coronary heart disease, accidents, and suicide, which is close to the list a well-timed appointment is designed to get ahead of.

Many of those deaths came from causes that are largely preventable, and the report found that men die prematurely at about 1.4 times the rate of women. Its economic modelling also estimated that Canada could have saved up to $12.4 billion in 2023 on avoidable cases of five conditions in men, including coronary heart disease, lung and colorectal cancer, and suicide. The point of the moustache was never the moustache, and our guide to preventing heart disease, cancer, and more shows how much of that risk is still within reach.

The numbers have also reached Ottawa. Movember Canada has pushed for a first national men's health strategy, and in February the federal health minister opened a public consultation and said the government aims to launch the strategy later in 2026.

What keeps men from booking regular checkups?

The same report included a nationally representative poll of 1,502 Canadian men, and two of its findings stand side by side. Nearly half of the men, 45 percent, agreed that it is normal for men to avoid regular health checkups. Movember also reports that 65 per cent of men wait at least six days before seeking help for symptoms, and nearly one in ten put off care for more than two years.

The second finding gets less airtime, because only 48 percent of men who saw a provider at the first sign of illness felt actively listened to. That is a habit of waiting until something is undeniable, colliding with early visits that did not always reward showing up.

Fixing the system is above anyone's pay grade on a Tuesday afternoon, while the personal fix is blunt and available to almost everyone. Go before there is a crisis. The whole advantage of a checkup is catching silent problems, such as high blood pressure, creeping blood sugar, and cholesterol that can run high even if you eat well, while they are still easy to manage.

How does men's mental health fit into a checkup?

The hardest numbers in the Movember report have nothing to do with hearts or prostates. Men are almost three times as likely as women to die by suicide, and Movember reports that suicide is the second leading cause of death for Canadian men between 15 and 44. The Canadian Men's Health Foundation adds that 64 percent of men report moderate to high stress and that one in two is at risk of social isolation.

A checkup will not solve that on its own, though it is one of the few places men reliably get asked how they are doing, and answering honestly is allowed. A family doctor or walk-in clinic is a legitimate front door for men's mental health, the same as it is for a sore knee or a rash that will not clear. If you are worried about a friend, our guide on how to check in on someone who is struggling can help you open the conversation. If you or a man in your life is in crisis, the 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline is available across Canada by call or text at any hour of the day.

What does a full checkup actually cover?

For anyone who has been dodging it, knowing what a full checkup involves takes some of the dread away, because the appointment is shorter and less dramatic than the avoidance suggests. The basics apply at any age and include blood pressure, weight, and a frank conversation about smoking, alcohol, sleep, and mood. Blood work for cholesterol and blood sugar usually comes in during your 40s, and your doctor will tell you how often you need it after that.

Bowel cancer screening starts at 50 in most provinces and at 45 in Ontario and Prince Edward Island, and Ontario now offers it five years earlier than it used to. It usually begins with a home stool test you complete at your kitchen counter. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men in Canada, according to Statistics Canada. Whether to test for it with a PSA blood test is a genuine conversation with your doctor, as our guide to asking for a PSA test explains.

Younger men have their own assignment, since testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men aged 15 to 40, according to Movember Canada, and early detection makes a real difference to how it goes. Learning what normal feels like takes about thirty seconds in the shower, and any new lump, swelling, or heaviness is worth a prompt visit.

Whatever brings you in, say the real thing out loud before your men's health checkup ends, because the symptom mentioned on the way out the door is often the reason the visit mattered. That might be chest tightness on the stairs, blood where it should not be, a mood that will not lift, or a cough that will not go away after 40. Ask your doctor to look at any mole on your back you cannot see yourself, too, since skin cancer often looks different from the textbook pictures.

How do you make the appointment actually happen?

Treat it like the oil change you would never skip, and make the appointment before the month gets away from you. The steps below are deliberately short, since a booked date on the calendar beats a good intention every single time.

Book it this week. Pick a date in November, and if you have no family doctor, a walk-in clinic or virtual visit can cover the basics and the blood work requisition. Our guide to getting care without a family doctor walks through the options.

Write down three things. List the symptoms or worries you have been ignoring, since a written list survives the strange amnesia that tends to strike in exam rooms. Our checklist for preparing for a doctor's appointment covers what else to bring.

Bring your family history. Note any parent or sibling with heart problems, high blood sugar, or prostate or bowel cancer, because it can move your screening earlier.

Let the moustache do its job. When someone asks about it, tell them it is for men's health and that you booked your checkup, which is the most persuasive line in the whole campaign.

Offer to drive. If you are reading this for a husband, dad, brother, or friend, a booked appointment forwarded with an offer of a ride has ended plenty of multi-year streaks.

Frequently asked questions

How often should a man get a checkup?

How often you need a men's health checkup depends on your age, your health, and your family history, and your doctor will set the rhythm with you. Doctors often see healthy younger men every few years, while men over 40 or with risk factors such as high blood pressure usually benefit from a yearly visit and regular blood work.

What happens at a routine checkup for men?

A routine visit usually covers your blood pressure, weight, and a conversation about sleep, mood, alcohol, smoking, and exercise. Depending on your age, your doctor may order blood work for cholesterol and blood sugar and talk through bowel screening and the PSA test. Expect questions about any symptoms you have noticed since your last visit.

Can a walk-in clinic do a full physical?

Many walk-in clinics can check your blood pressure, order routine blood work, talk through screening, and refer you to a specialist when needed. A family doctor offers more continuity over time, though a walk-in clinic or virtual visit is a solid way to get started if you do not have one right now.

When should men start bowel screening?

Most provinces start bowel screening at age 50 for people at average risk, while Ontario and Prince Edward Island start at 45. Screening usually begins with a home stool test every one to two years. A parent or sibling with bowel cancer can move your start date earlier, so mention any family history to your doctor.

How do you check your testicles at home?

The easiest time is after a warm shower, when the skin is relaxed. Gently roll each testicle between your thumb and fingers and feel for lumps, swelling, hardness, or changes in size. Most changes turn out to be harmless, though anything new or different from your usual is worth showing a doctor promptly.

What if a man in your life refuses to book a checkup?

Be specific instead of general, offer to book the visit or drive him there, and connect it to something he cares about, such as his kids or his golf game. Movember gives you a natural opening this month. If he seems to be struggling emotionally, the 9-8-8 helpline is available by call or text at any hour.

Your next step

Movember gives you the excuse, and the moustache gives you the reminder every morning in the mirror. The Medimap Health Hub has more on staying ahead of men's health, and you can find a family practice near you or book a walk-in clinic visit this week while it is on your mind.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. It does not replace a conversation with a doctor or other qualified health professional who knows your history. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.