What Does a Men’s Health Doctor Do?

A men’s health doctor looks for health problems early and treats the ones that affect men, such as low testosterone and prostate trouble. A visit can cover blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, weight, hormones, and cancer screening for the colon and prostate.

Regular screening can find diseases early, when they are easier to treat, says MedlinePlus, the health site of the National Library of Medicine. The screenings you need depend on your age and health history.

What kind of doctor is a men’s health doctor?

Men’s health is a focus, and the main specialty boards give no certificate by that name. The American Board of Medical Specialties lists every certificate its 24 member boards offer, and men’s health is not on the list.

Three kinds of doctor do this work, and the National Cancer Institute describes each one.

• Primary care. A primary care doctor manages your health care over time and gives preventive care, such as disease screenings.
• Urology. A urologist treats diseases of the urinary organs and the male reproductive organs.
• Hormone care. An endocrinologist treats disorders of the glands and organs that make hormones.

Physicians from other fields also build a practice around hormone care. Towsen Clinic is that kind of practice.

What does a men’s health visit check?

These are the basic checks, with the ages that national guidelines give.

• Blood pressure. The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening for all adults 18 and older. It suggests a check every year from age 40.
• Cholesterol. A blood test called a lipid panel checks it. Men ages 45 to 65 should have one every 1 to 2 years, says the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
• Blood sugar. Adults ages 35 to 70 with overweight or obesity should be screened for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, the task force says.
• Weight. A doctor uses your height and weight to find your body mass index, or BMI. A BMI of 25 or more counts as overweight and 30 or more as obesity, per the task force.

When should men get screened for colon and prostate cancer?

The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends colorectal cancer screening for adults ages 45 to 75. That advice covers people at average risk who have no symptoms. A stool test every year and a colonoscopy every 10 years are two of the options.

On prostate cancer, the task force says men ages 55 to 69 should decide about a PSA blood test with their doctor. It recommends against PSA screening for men 70 and older. Its advice dates from 2018, and an update is under way.

The American Urological Association gives an earlier start in a guideline it amended in 2026. Doctors may offer a first PSA test between ages 45 and 50, it says. From 50 to 69, it says to offer regular screening every 2 to 4 years.

Men at higher risk should get the offer earlier, from age 40 to 45, the association says. It names Black men, men with a strong family history of prostate cancer and men with certain inherited gene changes.

Those two schedules differ, so ask your own doctor which one fits you.

When should a man get his testosterone checked?

A testosterone test follows symptoms. The Endocrine Society recommends against routine screening of men in the general population for low testosterone.

MedlinePlus says the symptoms of low testosterone in men may include these.

• Low sex drive.
• Erection problems.
• Loss of muscle mass.
• Enlarged breasts.
• Thinning bones or anemia without a known cause.

A diagnosis needs symptoms or signs plus two low total testosterone readings, according to the American Urological Association. Both blood draws happen early in the morning, on two separate occasions.

Testosterone is FDA approved for men with low testosterone caused by certain medical conditions, the FDA’s testosterone page says.

Which symptoms are worth a visit?

Tell a doctor about any of these.

• Erection problems. Erectile dysfunction may be a symptom of another health problem, says the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Its list of causes includes diabetes, heart and blood vessel disease and low testosterone.
• Urinary changes. The same institute says to discuss any urinary symptoms, such as a weak stream or trouble starting, with a health care professional. Blood in your urine needs attention right away.
• Changes in weight, sleep or energy. The National Institute on Aging says to mention them to your doctor.

How do you get ready for a men’s health visit?

The National Institute on Aging suggests these steps before any appointment.

• Make a list of what you want to discuss, and put the most important items first.
• Write down everything you take and the dose, including vitamins and supplements.
• Bring the names and phone numbers of your other doctors.

Talk with your doctor about your family health history too, MedlinePlus advises. A testosterone blood draw happens in the morning, between 7 and 10, when levels are usually highest. Ask ahead whether you need to fast.

What does a men’s visit cover at Towsen Clinic?

Our visits for men are about hormones, testosterone, weight and how your body performs. We are not a primary care office or a urology office, and we do not do cancer screening.

We work alongside your own primary care doctor, and your screenings remain with that doctor.

A first visit is 60 to 90 minutes and costs $295. You work with Adrienne Towsen, MD, directly. She reviews your health history, symptoms and goals, then orders lab work.

The lab list on our process page includes total and free testosterone, estradiol, thyroid tests, a lipid panel and hemoglobin A1C. Dr. Towsen personally reviews your results and explains them at a results visit.

For men over 40, the list also has a PSA blood test, which she monitors during testosterone therapy. That lab is part of hormone care, and it does not replace the screening plan you have with your own doctor.

Towsen Clinic is at 795 East Marshall Street in West Chester.

What should you do next?

Start with your primary care doctor for blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and cancer screening. Bring up urinary or erection problems there, and ask whether you need a urologist.

If low sex drive or loss of muscle mass is your main worry, a hormone visit is worth a conversation. Our page on testosterone replacement therapy in West Chester, PA lists what we test and what Dr. Towsen monitors during treatment.

Our guide to how the first visit works sets out each step. Call (484) 803-5448 to book.