Screening tests and health counseling are a key part of managing your health. A screening test is done to find disorders or diseases in people who don't have any symptoms. Screening tests are not used to diagnose. They are used to find out if more testing is needed. The goal may be to find a disease early so it can be treated with more success. Or the goal may be to find a disease early so you can make lifestyle changes. You may need regular checkups to help you reduce your risk of disease.
Below are guidelines for women ages 50 to 64. Talk with your healthcare provider. Make sure you’re up-to-date on what you need.
Gendered terms are used here to talk about anatomy and health risk. Please use this information in a way that works best for you and your provider as you talk about your care.
Screening
Who needs it
How often
Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes
All women in this age group who are overweight or obese, or had gestational diabetes
At least every 3 years
Type 2 diabetes
All women with prediabetes
Every year
Unhealthy alcohol use
All women in this age group
At routine exams
Blood pressure
Once a year if your blood pressure is normal. Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg. If your blood pressure is higher than this, follow the advice of your healthcare provider.
Breast cancer
All women in this age group at average risk
Advice varies. Talk with your provider to find out what's best for you.
All women should know how their breasts normally look and feel. They should know the benefits and risks of breast cancer screening with mammograms.
Cervical cancer
All women in this age group, unless they have had a complete hysterectomy
Pap test every 3 years or Pap test with high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) test every 5 years
Chlamydia
Women who are sexually active and at higher risk of infection
At yearly routine exams
Colorectal cancer
Talk with your healthcare provider about which test below is right for you:
Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years
Colonoscopy every 10 years
CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years
Yearly fecal occult blood test
Yearly fecal immunochemical test (FIT)
Stool DNA test every 3 years
Double contrast barium enema every 5 years
If you have a test that is not a colonoscopy and have an abnormal test result, you will need a colonoscopy.
You may need to be screened more or less often. This is based on personal or family health history. Talk with your healthcare provider.
Depression
Gonorrhea
Sexually active women who are at higher risk of infection
Hepatitis C
High cholesterol or triglycerides
All women in this age group who are at risk for coronary artery disease
At least every 5 years. Talk with your healthcare provider about your risk.
HIV
At least 1 time. Get tested yearly if you're at high risk.
Lung cancer
All women in this age group who are in fairly good health, are at higher risk for lung cancer, and who:
Smoke or quit in the past 15 years
Have a 20-pack- per year smoking history (1 pack a day for 20 years or 2 packs a day for 10 years)
Expert groups vary in their advice. Talk with your healthcare provider.
Yearly lung cancer screening with a low-dose CT scan (LDCT). Talk with your healthcare provider.
Obesity
Osteoporosis
Women who are postmenopausal
Talk with your healthcare provider
Syphilis
Women who are at higher risk of infection. Talk with your healthcare provider.
Tuberculosis
Women who are at higher risk of infection
Vision
Health counseling
BRCA gene mutation testing for breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility
Women who are at higher risk of having this gene mutation. Talk with your healthcare provider.
When your risk is known
Breast cancer and chemoprevention
Women who are at high risk for breast cancer. Talk with your healthcare provider.
Diet and exercise
Women who are overweight or obese
When diagnosed, and then at routine exams
Sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention
Use of tobacco and the health effects it can cause
Every exam