General ScreeninGS and

i m m u n i z at i o n S f o r W o m e n

These charts are guidelines only. Your doctor or nurse will personalize the timing of each test and im-
munization to meet your health care needs.
Screening tests Ages 18–39 Ages 40–49 Ages 50–64 Ages 65 and older
General health: Discuss with your Discuss with your Discuss with your Discuss with your
Full checkup, including doctor or nurse. doctor or nurse. doctor or nurse. doctor or nurse.
weight and height
Thyroid (TSH) test Discuss with your Discuss with your Discuss with your Discuss with your
doctor or nurse. doctor or nurse. doctor or nurse. doctor or nurse.
HIV test Get this test at least Get this test at least Get this test at least Discuss with your
once to find out once to find out once to find out doctor or nurse.
your HIV status. Ask your HIV status. Ask your HIV status. Ask
http://www.womenshealth.gov
your doctor or nurse your doctor or nurse your doctor or nurse
1-800-994-9662 if and when you if and when you if and when you
need the test again. need the test again. need the test again.
TDD: 1-888-220-5446
Heart health: At least every 2 At least every 2 At least every 2 At least every 2 years
Blood pressure test years years years
Cholesterol test Start at age 20, Discuss with your Discuss with your Discuss with your
discuss with your doctor or nurse. doctor or nurse. doctor or nurse.
doctor or nurse.
Bone health: Discuss with your Discuss with your Get a bone mineral
Bone density screen doctor or nurse. doctor or nurse. density test at least
once. Talk to your
doctor or nurse about
repeat testing.
Diabetes: Discuss with your Start at age 45, Every 3 years Every 3 years
Blood glucose test doctor or nurse. then every 3 years.
Breast health: Every 1–2 years. Every 1–2 years. Every 1–2 years.
Mammogram (x-ray Discuss with your Discuss with your Discuss with your
of breast) doctor or nurse. doctor or nurse. doctor or nurse.
Clinical breast exam At least every 3 Yearly Yearly Yearly
years starting in
your 20s
Reproductive Every 2 years Every 3 years Every 3 years Discuss with your
health: starting at age 21. doctor or nurse.
Pap test Women 30 and
older, every 3 years.
Pelvic Exam Yearly beginning Yearly Yearly Yearly
at age 21. Younger
than 21 and sexually
active, discuss with
your doctor or nurse.
Chlamydia test Yearly until age 25 Get this test if Get this test if Get this test if
if sexually active. you have new or you have new or you have new or
Age 26 and older, multiple partners. multiple partners. multiple partners.
get this test if you
have new or mul-
tiple partners.
Sexually Both partners Both partners Both partners Both partners should
transmitted infection should get tested should get tested should get tested get tested for STIs,
(STI) tests for STIs, including for STIs, including for STIs, including including HIV, before
HIV, before initiating HIV, before initiating HIV, before initiating initiating sexual
sexual intercourse. sexual intercourse. sexual intercourse. intercourse.
page 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health


http://www.womenshealth.gov
1-800-994-9662
TDD: 1-888-220-5446
page 
G e n e r a l S c r e e n i n gs a n d
I m m u n i z at i o n s f o r W o m e n
Screening tests Ages 18–39 Ages 40–49 Ages 50–64 Ages 65 and older
Mental health Discuss with your Discuss with your Discuss with your Discuss with your
screening doctor or nurse. doctor or nurse. doctor or nurse. doctor or nurse.
Colorectal health: Yearly Yearly. Older than
(use 1 of these 3 age 75, discuss with
methods): your doctor or nurse.
Fecal occult blood test
Flexible sigmoid- Every 5 years Every 5 years. Older than
oscopy (with fecal age 75, discuss with
occult blood test) your doctor or nurse.
Colonoscopy Every 10 years Every 10 years. Older
than age 75, discuss
with your doctor or
nurse.
Eye and ear health: At least once Get an exam at Every 2–4 years Every 1–2 years
Complete eye exam between the ages age 40, then every or as your doctor
20–29, at least 2–4 years or as your advises you
twice between the doctor advises.
ages 30–39, or any
time that you have
a problem.
Hearing test Starting at age 18, Every 10 years Every 3 years Every 3 years
then every 10 years
Skin Health: Monthly mole self- Monthly mole self- Monthly mole self- Monthly mole self-
Mole exam exam; by a doctor exam; by a doctor exam; by a doctor exam; by a doctor
or nurse as part of a or nurse as part or nurse as part or nurse as part of a
routine full checkup of a routine full of a routine full routine full checkup.
starting at age 20. checkup. checkup.
Oral health: Routinely; discuss Routinely; discuss Routinely; discuss Routinely; discuss
Dental exam with your dentist. with your dentist. with your dentist. with your dentist.
Immunizations: Discuss with your Discuss with your Yearly Yearly
Influenza vaccine doctor or nurse. doctor or nurse.
Pneumococcal One time only
vaccine
Tetanus-diphtheria- Every 10 years Every 10 years Every 10 years Every 10 years
pertussis booster
vaccine
Human papillomavi- Up to age 26, if not
rus (HPV) vaccine already completed
vaccine series;
discuss with your
doctor or nurse.
Meningococcal vac- Discuss with your
cine doctor or nurse if
you are a college
student or military
recruit.
Herpes zoster vac- Starting at age 60, Starting at age 60,
cine (to prevent one time only. Ask one time only. Ask
shingles) your doctor or nurse your doctor or nurse
if it is okay for you to if it is okay for you to
get it. get it.
Content last updated November 23, 2009.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health