Full body health check in Turkey: what's included, screenings and price

Full health check-up in Turkey: Ultimate guide

There is no single standard for a preventive medical examination. A general health check-up is often tailored to the individual, taking into account factors such as age, gender, medical history, and lifestyle.

Generally speaking, a full medical check-up can involve several steps, tests, and examinations.

Anamnesis (medical history)

A check-up usually starts with a conversation. The doctor asks about your family history and your own medical past, but also about your background, your work, and your living situation, since all of these can affect your health. Then come the everyday questions: what you eat, how much you move, how you've been feeling mentally, and anything that might put you at risk. The goal is simple: to get the full picture before any test is run.

The physician also reviews the patient's immunization history, ideally from written records. A thorough anamnesis allows the doctor to focus the subsequent clinical and technical examinations on areas of potential concern.

Clinical examination

Based on the medical history, the physician performs a clinical examination, including general assessments such as auscultation, palpation, weight, and height measurements. These findings are then compared with the anamnesis to identify any discrepancies or areas requiring further investigation.

Paraclinical examination

The paraclinical examination may include:

• Blood tests and urinalysis.
• Hearing and visual examinations.
• An ECG.
• Dental and oral examination.
• Memory or eye tests for patients over 65 (e.g., age-related macular degeneration)
• Chest X-ray for smokers.
• Gynecological or mammography exams for women.
• Oncology-focused examinations for patients with a history of cancer.

At the conclusion of the check-up, the physician reviews the results, recommends follow-up schedules, and, if necessary, refers the patient to a specialist for further evaluation or treatment.

Benefits of a full health check-up

A check-up is a way to monitor your health and, when relevant, to detect certain conditions early. Its value depends on choosing tests suited to your age, sex and risk factors rather than on the number of tests.

Prevention of age-related diseases

A few screening tests can help detect age-related health problems early:

• Thyroid: initial screening includes neck palpation and blood tests of thyroid hormone levels. If abnormalities are detected, a thyroid ultrasound may be performed and referral to an endocrinologist may be recommended.
• Osteoporosis: bone densitometry may be recommended for people with risk factors, particularly postmenopausal women, those with spontaneous fractures, long-term corticosteroid use or premature menopause. Your doctor decides how often.
• Heart disease: the physical examination includes cardiac and pulmonary auscultation, and cardiovascular screening is particularly recommended for smokers, overweight people and older patients.
• Diabetes: blood glucose testing helps detect hyperglycemia, and fasting blood tests may be repeated in people at risk.
• Hearing loss: audiometry helps detect early hearing impairment, and an ENT consultation may be recommended for age-related hearing loss (presbycusis).

Cancer prevention

Screening recommendations differ between countries and organizations, and your doctor will tell you which apply to you. As an example, the American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends the following for people at average risk:

• Breast cancer: women aged 40 to 44 can choose to start annual mammograms; women aged 45 to 54 should have annual mammograms; from 55, screening can move to every two years or continue annually.
• Colorectal cancer: regular screening starting at age 45, with a stool-based test such as FIT or a colonoscopy, chosen with your doctor. A colonoscopy may be recommended if abnormalities are found or if there is a family history.
• Cervical cancer: screening with a Pap smear and/or HPV test, starting age and interval depending on national guidelines.
• Prostate cancer: a PSA blood test can be discussed with your doctor, who will weigh the benefits against the risk of overdiagnosis.

National programs in Turkey use different age ranges and intervals (for example, mammography every two years between 40 and 69),so follow your doctor's advice on which schedule applies to you.

Prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)

Sexually transmitted infections can be transmitted through unprotected sexual contact. Screening is especially advised for people with multiple partners or high-risk exposure. The right moment to test depends on the infection and the test used, because some tests only detect an infection some time after exposure, so ask your doctor when to test. Early diagnosis allows effective treatment and helps prevent complications.

Limits of general health checks

A Cochrane review of randomized trials found that general health checks in adults led to little or no reduction in total mortality, cardiovascular mortality or cancer mortality, and that they increase the number of new diagnoses and treatments, which can bring benefits but also harms such as overdiagnosis and false positives. This is why a check-up should focus on tests that are relevant to your age, sex, family history and lifestyle.

Sources

1. American Cancer Society. Guidelines for the Early Detection of Cancer. cancer.org
2. Krogsbøll LT, Jørgensen KJ, Gøtzsche PC. General health checks in adults for reducing morbidity and mortality from disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev (CD009009). cochrane.org

Sources reviewed in November 2026. They support the general information in this section and do not replace your doctor's advice.

Why choose Turquie Santé for your health check-up?

Turquie Santé helps you organize a health check-up in Turkey with personalized support throughout your stay. We connect you with partner hospitals and specialists, and the medical decisions remain with the doctors who examine you.

Our services include:

• Help choosing a clinic for your check-up
• Check-up programs tailored to your age, sex and health needs
• Clear, detailed quotes that state what is included
• A teleconsultation to evaluate your case before traveling
• Multilingual assistance for communication and administrative support

Contact us to organize your health check-up in Turkey and receive guidance tailored to your needs.