Tamar Health

Published by Tamar Health · Plymouth · Health Advice

Most men don’t go to the doctor until something is visibly wrong. That’s understandable, but it does mean that conditions which are easy to manage early, like high blood pressure, raised cholesterol, or early diabetes, often go undetected until they’ve already caused problems. A Well Man health check is a practical way to get an honest picture of where you stand, without needing a specific reason to be there.

What Is a Well Man Health Check?

A Well Man check is a comprehensive health screen designed specifically for men. It combines a broad blood panel with an in-clinic urinalysis to give a detailed overview of your current health across multiple body systems. Think of it as a snapshot of your health at this point in time, with a baseline you can compare against in the future.

It isn’t about finding something wrong. Most people come back with results that are broadly fine. But when something is picked up, catching it early almost always means simpler treatment and better outcomes.

What Does the Well Man Check Include?

Our Well Man Health Check (£185 all-inclusive) covers a comprehensive blood panel alongside an in-clinic urine test. Here’s what’s tested:

Blood markers included

• Full blood count, checking red cells, white cells and platelets
• Kidney function (urea, creatinine, electrolytes)
• Liver function (ALT, AST, bilirubin, albumin)
• Cholesterol and lipid profile (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides)
• Blood glucose and HbA1c (the longer-term diabetes marker)
• Thyroid function (TSH)
• Testosterone
• PSA (prostate specific antigen)
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin B12 and folate

In-clinic urine dipstick

Your clinician performs a urine dipstick test in clinic. This checks for signs of infection, blood, protein, and glucose in the urine, markers that can indicate kidney issues, bladder problems, or diabetes that might not show up in blood alone.

Why These Markers Matter

Cholesterol and cardiovascular risk

Raised cholesterol doesn’t cause symptoms. You won’t feel it. But it significantly increases the risk of heart attack and stroke over time. Knowing your levels means you can act on them, through diet, exercise, or medication if needed, before they cause a problem.

HbA1c and blood glucose

Type 2 diabetes often develops slowly and silently. HbA1c gives a picture of your average blood sugar over the past three months. Catching pre-diabetes early gives you a real opportunity to reverse the trend through lifestyle changes.

Testosterone

Low testosterone is more common than most men realise, particularly from the mid-30s onwards. It can cause fatigue, low mood, reduced libido, difficulty concentrating, and loss of muscle mass. Knowing your level is the first step in working out whether it’s a factor.

PSA

PSA is a prostate-specific marker. A raised result doesn’t automatically mean prostate cancer, there are several benign causes, but it’s a useful flag that warrants further investigation. Many men have no symptoms in the early stages of prostate conditions, which is exactly why screening matters.

Vitamin D

Deficiency is very common in the UK, particularly through winter and early spring. It affects bone health, immune function, mood and energy. It’s also one of the easiest things to correct once you know about it.

Who Should Have a Well Man Check?

There’s no single right age to start. We’d generally say that any man from his mid-20s onwards can benefit from a baseline check, and from there, annual or biennial checks make sense depending on what the results show. If you have a family history of heart disease, diabetes, or prostate conditions, earlier and more regular screening is particularly worthwhile.

The NHS offers a free health check to adults aged 40 to 74, every five years. If you’re younger than that, or you’d rather not wait five years between checks, a private Well Man screen is a straightforward alternative.

What Happens After the Check?

Results are typically back the next working day. We contact you when they’re ready and go through anything that needs discussing. If everything looks good, we’ll tell you that clearly. If something is outside the normal range, we’ll explain what it means, what the likely causes are, and what the appropriate next steps are, whether that’s a follow-up consultation, a repeat test in a few months, or a referral.

You won’t receive a list of numbers in an email with no explanation. The results come with clinical context.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to fast before the test?

Yes, for the most accurate cholesterol and glucose results we recommend fasting for 10 to 12 hours before your appointment. Water is fine. Morning appointments work well for most people as you can fast overnight.

How long does the appointment take?

The blood draw and urinalysis take around 15 to 20 minutes. You can be in and out quickly, it’s not a lengthy process.

Is the PSA test reliable?

PSA is a useful screening marker but it’s not a definitive test for prostate cancer. A raised result can have benign causes and needs to be interpreted alongside symptoms and risk factors. If your PSA is raised, we’ll discuss it with you and advise on appropriate next steps rather than leaving you to worry about a number.

Can I combine the Well Man check with a consultation?

Yes. If you’d like a clinician to review your results with you in person, or if you have other concerns you want to discuss, you can book a consultation alongside your blood draw.

How often should I have a Well Man check?

For most men in good health, once a year is a reasonable interval. If results flag something that needs monitoring, your clinician will advise on a more appropriate schedule.