Health screenings for women ages 18 to 39
You should visit your health care provider from time to time, even if you are healthy. The purpose of these visits is to:
- Screen for medical issues
- Assess your risk for future medical problems
- Encourage a healthy lifestyle
- Update vaccinations and other preventive care services
- Help you get to know your provider in case of an illness
Video Transcript
Physical exam frequency - Animation
When you feel perfectly fine, the last thing you want to think about is seeing your health care provider. But that's exactly when you should be thinking about getting a checkup. Regular checkups, as well as certain health screenings and vaccinations, can be powerful ways to protect your health. Checkups are also called physical exams, annual wellness visits, and routine exams. Many conditions that threaten your health don't have any symptoms. For example, you might have no idea that you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, until they make you sick. How often you need checkups and what screening tests you get, depends on your age and sex. If you are age 18 to 64, you should see your provider once every 1 to 5 years depending on what health conditions you have. Starting at age 65, you'll want to visit your provider at least once a year. At each checkup, your height, weight, and blood pressure will be checked. Your provider will also talk with you about any health screenings and vaccinations you may need. All adults age 18 and older should have their blood pressure checked every year. Have it checked during a checkup, or look for blood pressure screenings at health fairs or drug stores in your area. If you have a history of high blood pressure readings, or you have risk factors for high blood pressure, such as diabetes or heart disease, you may need your blood pressure checked more often. Your health care provider may ask you about any symptoms of depression and anxiety, your diet and exercise habits, alcohol, tobacco, and drug use, safety issues, such as using seat belts, smoke detectors, and intimate partner violence, your medicines and risk for interactions, and health screenings and vaccinations you may need. If you are age 35 and are overweight or have obesity, you should have your blood sugar tested for prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes. After this, you should have this screening test every 3 years if you are overweight or have obesity. Starting at age 35 for men, and 45 for women, you should have a cholesterol test once every 5 years. People with certain health conditions may need to have their cholesterol checked more often. Starting at age 45, everyone should be screened for colon cancer. You have several options for the type of colon cancer screening you can have. Your options include, a colonoscopy every 10 years, a stool test, either a fecal occult blood test, FOBT, or a fecal immunochemical test, FIT, every year, a stool DNA FIT test every 1 to 3 years, a flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, or every 10 years with yearly stool testing, and a CT colonography every 5 years. You should have an annual screening for lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography, LDCT, if you are age 50 to 80 years, AND you have a 20 pack-year smoking history, AND you currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years. Women need a Pap test to check for cervical cancer starting at age 21, and then every 3 years until age 65 if test results are normal. Women ages 30 to 65 can have either a Pap test every three years, or the HPV test every 5 years. Starting at age 40, women should have a mammogram to check for breast cancer every 1 to 2 years. Because bones can become brittle with age, women ages 65 and older should have a bone density scan. Younger women and men should talk to their provider about whether they need a bone density test based on their risks. If you are male, and age 55 through 69 years old, talk to your provider about the pros and cons of having a prostate specific antigen blood test. Ask your provider whether screening decreases your chance of dying from prostate cancer, whether there is any harm from prostate cancer screening, such as side effects from testing or overtreatment of cancer when discovered, and whether you have a higher risk of prostate cancer than others. One of the best ways to avoid unexpected visits to your provider, and protect your health, is to get the vaccines that are right for you. Vaccines aren't just for children. Everyone ages 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine each fall or early winter to protect them for the whole season. You can also get a vaccine to protect against COVID-19 at the same time. Once every 10 years, get a T dap vaccine, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis. Older adults also need to get vaccinated against pneumonia, (pneumococcal infection), and shingles. Ask your provider about other vaccines you may need. To keep your teeth strong and healthy, visit your dentist twice a year for a cleaning and exam. Eye exams are also important, especially if you have glaucoma or another vision problem. All adults age 65 and older should have a comprehensive eye exam every year. If you are under age 65, check with your provider for advice about eye exams. Seeing your provider for regular checkups and screenings, can help prevent and find potential problems before you have a chance to get sick. Being proactive is the best way to protect your health.
Information
Even if you feel fine, you should still see your provider for regular checkups. These visits can help you avoid problems in the future. For example, the only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have it checked regularly. High blood sugar and high cholesterol levels also may not have any symptoms in the early stages. A simple blood test can check for these conditions.
High blood pressure
Blood pressure is a measurement of the force exerted against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood to your body. Hypertension is the ...
High cholesterol
Cholesterol is a fat (also called a lipid) that your body needs to work properly. Too much bad cholesterol in your blood can increase your chance of...
There are specific times when you should see your provider or receive specific health screenings. The US Preventive Services Task Force publishes a list of recommended screenings. Below are screening guidelines for women ages 18 to 39.
BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING
Your blood pressure should be checked at every 3 to 5 years.
Blood pressure
Blood pressure is a measurement of the force on the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood through your body. You can measure your blood pr...
Ask your provider if you need your blood pressure checked more often if:
- You have diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, are overweight, or have certain other health conditions.
Heart disease
Coronary heart disease is a narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. Coronary heart disease (CHD) is also called co...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark ArticleKidney problems
Chronic kidney disease is the slow loss of kidney function over time. The main job of the kidneys is to remove wastes and excess water from the body...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - You have a first-degree relative with high blood pressure.
- You are Black.
- Your blood pressure top number is from 120 to 129 mm Hg, or the bottom number is from 70 to 79 mm Hg.
- You had high blood pressure during a pregnancy.
If the top number is 130 mm Hg or greater, but lower than 140 mm Hg or the bottom number is 80 mm Hg or greater but lower than 90 mm Hg, this is considered stage 1 hypertension. Readings above these are considered stage 2 hypertension. Schedule an appointment with your provider to learn how you can reduce your blood pressure. Record your blood pressure numbers and bring this information to share with your provider.
Pressure
Blood pressure is a measurement of the force exerted against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood to your body. Hypertension is the ...
Watch for blood pressure screenings in your area. Ask your provider if you can stop in to have your blood pressure checked.
BREAST CANCER SCREENING
- Experts do not agree about the benefits of breast self-exams in finding breast cancer or saving lives. Talk to your provider about what is best for you.
- A screening mammogram is not recommended for most women under age 40.
Your provider may discuss and recommend mammograms, MRI scans, or ultrasounds if you have an increased risk for breast cancer, such as:
- A mother or sister who had breast cancer at a young age (most often starting screening earlier than the age the close relative was diagnosed).
- You carry a high-risk genetic marker.
CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING
Cervical cancer screening should start at age 21 years unless your provider advises otherwise.
After the first test:
- Women ages 21 through 29 should have a Pap test every 3 years. Experts do not agree on whether HPV testing is recommended for this age group.
Pap test
The Pap test mainly checks for changes in the cervix that may turn into cervical cancer. Cells scraped from the opening of the cervix are examined u...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Women ages 30 through 65 should be screened with either a Pap test every 3 years or the HPV test every 5 years or both tests every 5 years (called "cotesting").
- Women who have been treated for precancer (cervical dysplasia) should continue to have Pap tests for 20 years after treatment or until age 65, whichever is longer.
If you have had your uterus and cervix removed (total hysterectomy), and you have not been diagnosed with cervical cancer or precancer (high grade cervical neoplasia), you do not need cervical cancer screening.
Total hysterectomy
Hysterectomy is surgery to remove a woman's womb (uterus). The uterus is a hollow muscular organ that nourishes the developing baby during pregnancy...
CHOLESTEROL SCREENING
Cholesterol screening should begin at:
Cholesterol screening
Cholesterol is a soft, wax-like substance found in all parts of the body. Your body needs cholesterol to work properly. But too much cholesterol ca...
- Age 45 for women with no known risk factors for coronary heart disease
- Age 20 for women with known risk factors for coronary heart disease
Repeat cholesterol screening should take place:
- Every 5 years for women with normal cholesterol levels.
- More often if changes occur in lifestyle (including weight gain and diet).
- More often if you have diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, stroke, or other blood flow problems in the legs or feet, or certain other conditions.
- Your provider may recommend testing more often if you are taking medicines to control high cholesterol.
DENTAL EXAM
- Go to the dentist once or twice every year for an exam and cleaning. Your dentist will evaluate if you need more frequent visits.
PREDIABETES AND TYPE 2 DIABETES SCREENING
You should be screened for prediabetes diabetes and type 2 diabetes starting at age 35. Screening should be repeated every 3 years if you are overweight or have obesity.
Screening may need to start earlier and be repeated more often if you have other risk factors for diabetes, such as:
Diabetes
Diabetes is a long-term (chronic) disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.
- You have a first-degree relative with diabetes.
- You have high blood pressure, prediabetes, or a history of heart disease.
Screening for diabetes should be done if you are planning to become pregnant and you are overweight and have other risk factors such as high blood pressure.
EYE EXAM
- Have an eye exam every 5 to 10 years before age 40.
- If you have vision problems, have an eye exam every 2 years or more often if recommended by your provider.
Vision problems
There are many types of eye problems and vision disturbances, such as: Halos Blurred vision (the loss of sharpness of vision and the inability to see...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - You should have an eye exam that includes an examination of your retina (back of your eye) at least every year if you have diabetes.
IMMUNIZATIONS
Commonly needed vaccines include:
-
Flu shot: get one every year.
Flu
The flu (influenza) is a viral respiratory illness that causes fever, chills, runny nose, body aches, and cough. It spreads easily from person to pe...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - COVID-19 vaccine: ask your provider what is best for you.
-
Tetanus-diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine: have one at or after age 19 as one of your tetanus-diphtheria vaccines if you did not receive it as an adolescent.
Tetanus-diphtheria and acellular pertus...
All content below is taken in its entirety from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Tdap Vaccine Information Statement (VIS): www. cdc. gov/vaccine...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Tetanus-diphtheria: have a booster (Td or Tdap) every 10 years.
-
Varicella vaccine: receive 2 doses if you never had chickenpox or the varicella vaccine.
Chickenpox
Chickenpox is a viral infection in which a person develops very itchy blisters all over the body. It was more common in the past. The illness is ra...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Hepatitis B vaccine: receive 2, 3, or 4 doses, depending on your exact circumstances.
-
Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine: receive 1 to 2 doses if you are not already immune to MMR. Your provider can tell you if you are immune.
Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)
All content below is taken in its entirety from the CDC MMR (Measles, Mumps, & Rubella) Vaccine Information Statement (VIS): www. cdc. gov/vaccines/h...
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Ask your provider about the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine if:
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
All content below is taken in its entirety from the CDC HPV (Human Papillomavirus) Vaccine Information Statement (VIS): HPV (Human Papillomavirus) Va...
- You have not received the HPV vaccine in the past.
- You have not completed the full vaccine series (you should catch up on this shot).
Ask your provider if you should receive other immunizations if you have certain health problems that increase your risk for some diseases such as pneumonia.
INFECTIOUS DISEASE SCREENING
- Women who are sexually active should be screened for chlamydia and gonorrhea up until age 25.
- Women 25 years and older should be screened for chlamydia and gonorrhea if at high risk.
Screening for hepatitis C:
- All adults ages 18 to 79 should get a one-time test for hepatitis C.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a viral disease that leads to swelling (inflammation) of the liver. Other types of viral hepatitis include:Hepatitis AHepatitis BHepat...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Pregnant women should be screened at every pregnancy.
Screening for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV):
- All people ages 15 to 65 should get a one-time test for HIV.
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). When a person becomes infected with HIV, the ...
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Depending on your lifestyle and medical history, you may also need to be screened for infections such as syphilis and HIV, as well as other infections.
PHYSICAL EXAM
All adults should visit their provider from time to time, even if they are healthy. The purpose of these visits is to:
- Screen for disease.
- Assess your risk of future medical problems.
- Encourage a healthy lifestyle.
- Update your vaccinations and other preventive care services.
- Maintain a relationship with a provider in case of an illness.
Your height, weight, and BMI should be checked at every exam.
BMI
A good way to decide if your weight is healthy for your height is to figure out your body mass index (BMI). You and your health care provider can us...
During your exam, your provider may ask you about:
-
Depression and anxiety
Depression
Depression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for shor...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Diet and exercise
- Alcohol and tobacco use
- Safety issues, such as using seat belts, smoke detectors, and intimate partner violence
- Your medicines and risk for interactions
SKIN SELF-EXAM
Your provider may check your skin for signs of skin cancer, especially if you're at high risk, such as if you:
Skin cancer
Squamous cell skin cancer is the second most common type of cancer in the United States. Other common types of skin cancer are:Basal cell cancerMelan...
- Have had skin cancer before
- Have close relatives with skin cancer
- Have a weakened immune system
OTHER SCREENING
- Talk with your provider about colon cancer screening if you have a strong family history of colon cancer or polyps, or if you have had inflammatory bowel disease or polyps yourself.
- Routine bone density screening of women under 40 is not recommended.
Reviewed By
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. Editorial update 02/05/2025.
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