What is a preventive medical examination and which ones are available for men and women?

A preventive medical examination is a medical check-up. Your doctor examines you to determine whether you are healthy or if there are initial signs of illness. This is important because many diseases show no or only mild symptoms in their early stages. If they are detected early, they can be treated more effectively.

Which examinations are useful depends on your age, gender, and health condition. Your general practitioner can tell you which examinations you should have. Most preventive care services are part of statutory health insurance and can often be done without additional costs.

Brief overview of examinations that are important for men and women:

• Vaccination status check at the general practitioner's office
• Dental preventive care at the dentist's office
• Health check-up at the general practitioner's office (from age 18, especially from age 35)
• Hepatitis B and C screening at the general practitioner's office (once from age 35)
• Skin cancer screening at a dermatologist's office from age 35
• Colorectal cancer screening at a gastroenterology practice from age 50

Brief overview of examinations at a gynecologist that are important for women:

• Chlamydia screening (up to age 25)
• Cervical cancer screening and other gynecological examinations (from age 20)
• Breast cancer screening (between ages 50 and 75)
• Various examinations during pregnancy

Brief overview of examinations that are important for men:

• Prostate cancer screening at a urology practice (from age 45)
• Ultrasound examination for abdominal aortic aneurysm at the general practitioner's office, internist, or urologist (from age 65)

You can find more information on this topic here:

Here you can find a detailed overview of when you should see a doctor for which preventive examination:Overview of early detection examinations - Federal Joint Committee