We are lucky in the UK to have the NHS and access to free healthcare. However, you might want to enhance your health checks and screenings with a private provider such as our clinic.

We all know that preventative medicine is the future. The NHS provides health checks based on public health data and research. This helps reduce disease in the general population but is not tailored to the individual and does not provide an enhanced level of care.

Health screenings are often misunderstood as something you do reactively, when you’re unwell, fatigued, or worried that something is wrong. But the most forward-thinking approach to health, especially in a private healthcare setting, is preventive, personalised and proactive.

Instead of waiting for disease, you identify early markers of risk and intervene before illness ever develops.

Men and women share many of the same core health needs, but there are also distinct screening priorities for each sex, shaped by hormonal profiles, organ-specific risks and lifestyle patterns. Below is a comprehensive, best-practice guide to what individuals should ideally screen for, independent of public health minimums.

The Principles of Optimal Preventive Screening

Before detailing sex-specific tests, it’s important to understand the foundations of a world-class screening programme. High-quality preventive healthcare should be:

• Personalised: Genetics, hormones, ethnicity, lifestyle, family history and past medical issues all shape what your risks are. One size never fits all.
• Proactive: The aim is to catch risk early, not disease late.
• Data-driven: The more data we gather over the years (blood tests, body composition, hormones, cardiovascular scans), the clearer your personal trajectory becomes.
• Longevity-focused: Modern preventive care considers inflammation, metabolic health, cardiovascular ageing, bone density, mental health, sleep, recovery, gut health, and hormone balance, not just “do you have a disease?” The most important aspect of preventative care is ensuring quality of life for as long as possible.

Screenings All Adults Should Consider

Regardless of sex, everyone benefits from a strong baseline of annual or biannual checks. These represent modern best practice in private preventive medicine.

Comprehensive Blood Work

Annually or more often, if you have any abnormalities to track or markers to improve:

• Full blood count
• Kidney function
• Liver function
• Full lipid profile (HDL, LDL, triglycerides, non-HDL)
• HbA1c (blood sugar trend/diabetes marker)
• Thyroid function
• Inflammation markers (CRP; ± ESR)
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin B12 and folate
• Ferritin (iron stores)
• Electrolytes
• Uric acid
• Insulin (fasting) or HOMA-IR for early insulin resistance

This is the minimum for modern preventive medicine. These tests reveal silent conditions like fatty liver, pre-diabetes, iron deficiency, inflammation or thyroid issues long before symptoms appear.

Our blood profiles and add-ons provide a full overview from as little as £59.

Cardiovascular Screening

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading global cause of death, and it is largely preventable. Recommended:

• Resting ECG (baseline)
• Blood pressure monitoring (clinic + or home)
• Pulse wave analysis / arterial stiffness assessment
• High-sensitivity CRP
• Troponin benchmark (increasingly used for risk prediction)
• Lipoprotein(a) once in a lifetime (genetic cholesterol marker)
• Coronary calcium score (typically from age 40+ or earlier with family history)

A calcium score is one of the strongest predictors of near-term heart attack risk and is underused in public systems.

Body Composition and Metabolic Health

Annually:

• DEXA scan (body fat, visceral fat, bone density)
• Waist circumference
• VO₂ max or submaximal fitness testing
• Sleep assessment (if symptoms or fatigue)
• Lifestyle and stress review

Visceral fat is a major contributor to metabolic and cardiovascular disease, and a DEXA scan is far superior to BMI for tracking this.

Mental Health & Cognitive Screening

As part of a holistic assessment:

• Sleep quality
• Stress load
• Anxiety and depression screening
• Cognitive performance baseline

Women’s Health Screenings: What Women Should Prioritise

Women’s health requires sex-specific screening across the lifespan, particularly given hormonal fluctuations, pregnancy history, PCOS, perimenopause and autoimmune prevalence.

A. Reproductive Hormones (when relevant)

• Oestradiol
• Progesterone
• FSH, LH
• Prolactin
• Testosterone (total + free)
• SHBG

These help evaluate menstrual irregularities, infertility, PCOS, perimenopause and hormone-driven symptoms.

B. Cervical Screening (Smear Test)

• From age 25–64
• Every 12 months to every 3 years, depending on HPV status and any abnormalities
• HPV testing included

Our clinic also offers HPV subtyping for a more complete picture.

C. Breast Screening

• Breast awareness from age 20
• Annual clinical breast exam
• Ultrasound or mammogram, depending on age and risk

D. Bone Health

Women lose bone density more rapidly as oestrogen levels decline. Recommendations:

• DEXA scan starting age 40–45
• Earlier if low BMI, perimenopausal symptoms or family history

E. Menopause & Midlife Screening

From the early 40s onwards, consider:

• Full hormone panel
• Thyroid panel (women are more prone to autoimmune thyroid disorders)
• Lipids and glucose annually
• Iron and ferritin (heavy periods may cause deficiency)
• Bone density and cardiovascular screening

Menopause is a critical metabolic turning point; screenings here are preventive, not reactive. People often think menopause only impacts fertility and vitality, but the reduction of oestrogen also changes a woman’s metabolism and heart disease risk.

Men’s Health Screenings: What Men Should Prioritise

Men often enter healthcare later and are under-screened compared with women. Preventive screenings are crucial, especially for cardiovascular and prostate health.

A. Prostate Health

From age 40–45 (earlier if family history):

• PSA blood test
• Prostate examination (if clinically indicated)
• Prostate MRI for elevated PSA or high-risk men
• Stockholm 3 test

PSA is controversial in public systems, but in private preventive medicine, it is considered a valuable screening marker when interpreted by an experienced clinician.

B. Male Hormone Panel

Particularly from age 35 onwards or younger if symptomatic:

• Total testosterone
• Free testosterone (calculated or measured)
• SHBG
• LH, FSH
• Prolactin
• Oestradiol

Low testosterone is associated with fatigue, low mood, central weight gain, poor sleep and reduced cardiovascular fitness.

C. Cardiovascular Risk

Men tend to develop coronary artery disease earlier. Additional male-priority checks:

• Lp(a) (genetic cholesterol)
• A coronary calcium score is often recommended for individuals aged 40+

D. Testicular Health

• Annual clinical exam
• Ultrasound for irregularities or concerns
• Testicular self-examination education

Testicular cancer affects men from a young age, and regular self-examination is vital.

There are multiple health screening options for men and women. Some concerns are shared, but some are specific to your biology, genetics and family history. Taking a proactive approach to health screening is the single most effective way to prevent disease alongside a healthy lifestyle.

To discuss your options, call us today.