Here are the screening tests and immunizations that most women ages 50 to 64 need. A screening test is done to find possible health problems or diseases in people who don't have any symptoms. The goal is to find a disease early so lifestyle changes can be made and you can be watched more closely to lower the risk of disease, or to find it early enough to treat it most effectively. Screening tests are not diagnostic. But they are used to find out if more testing is needed. Health counseling is vital, too. You and your healthcare provider may decide that a different schedule is best for you. But this plan can guide your discussion.
Screening
Who needs it
How often
Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes
All adults starting at age 45 and adults without symptoms at any age who are overweight or obese and have 1 or more additional risk factors for diabetes
At least every 3 years
Alcohol misuse
All adults
At routine exams
Blood pressure
Yearly checkup if your blood pressure is normal.
Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg.
If your blood pressure reading is higher than normal, follow the advice of your healthcare provider.
Breast cancer
All women
Yearly mammogram should be done until age 54. At age 55, switch to mammograms every other year. Or you may choose to continue yearly mammograms.
Cervical cancer
All women, except those who have had a hysterectomy with removal of the cervix for reasons not related to cervical cancer and have no history of cervical cancer or serious precancer
Pap test every 3 years or Pap test with human papillomavirus (HPV) test every 5 years or primary HPV testing every 5 years, or Pap test with reflex HPV test every 3 years
Chlamydia
Women at a higher risk for infection
Colorectal cancer
All women of average risk in this age group
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS):
For tests that find polyps and cancer:
Colonoscopy every 10 years (recommended) or .
Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, or
CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years
For tests that primarily find cancer:
Yearly fecal occult blood test, or
Yearly fecal immunochemical test every year, or
Stool fecal immunochemical test with DNA test, every 3 years
You will need a follow-up colonoscopy if you choose any test other than a colonoscopy and you have an abnormal result. Screening recommendations vary among expert groups. Talk with your provider about which test is best for you.
Some people should be screened using a different schedule because of their personal or family history. Talk with your provider about your health history and what colorectal cancer screening schedule is best for you.
Depression
All adults in clinical practices that have staff and systems in place to assure accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and follow-up
Gonorrhea
Sexually active women at a higher risk for infection
At routine exams if at risk
Hepatitis C
Adults at a higher risk; 1 time for those born between 1945 and 1965
HIV
High cholesterol and triglycerides
All women ages 45 and older at a higher risk for coronary artery disease
At least every 5 years
Obesity
Lung cancer
Adults between the ages of 50 to 80 who are in fairly good health and are at higher risk for lung cancer who:
Currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years, and
Have a 20-pack year history of smoking (1 pack/day for 20 years or 2 packs/day for 10 years)
Yearly lung cancer screening with a low-dose CT scan (LDCT); talk with your healthcare provider about your risk and situation
Osteoporosis, postmenopausal women
Women at age 60 who are at a higher risk for fractures caused by osteoporosis
Check with your health care provider
Syphilis
Adults at a higher risk for infection
Tuberculosis
Check with your healthcare provider.
Vision
All adults5
Check with your healthcare provider for exam frequency.
Counseling
Aspirin for prevention of cardiovascular problems
At-risk adults
Recommended for women ages 55 to 79 years when the potential benefit of reducing strokes outweighs the potential harm of an increase in gastrointestinal bleeding
When risk is identified; talk with your healthcare provider before starting
Breast cancer, chemoprevention
Women at high risk
When risk is identified
BRCA mutation testing for breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility
Women with a higher risk
Diet and exercise
Women who are overweight or obese
When diagnosed
Sexually transmitted disease prevention
Tobacco use and tobacco-related disease
Every exam
Alcohol use and alcohol-related disease
Immunization
Haemophilus influenzae B type
At risk adults
1 to 3 doses
Tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Td/Tdap) booster)
One-time Tdap booster, then Td or Tdap every 10 years
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
Adults in this age group through their late 50s who have no previous infection or documented vaccinations
1 to 2 doses
Chickenpox (varicella)
Adults ages 50 to 64 who have no previous infection or documented vaccinations
2 doses; the second dose should be given at least 4 weeks after the first dose
Flu vaccine (seasonal)
Yearly, when the vaccine becomes available in the community
Hepatitis A vaccine
People at risk
2 doses given at least 6 months apart
Hepatitis B vaccine
High risk adults
3 doses; second dose should be given 1 month after the first dose; the third dose should be given at least 2 months after the second dose (and at least 4 months after the first dose)
Meningococcal
1 or more doses
Pneumococcal (PCV13)
Pneumococcal (PPSV23)
PCV13: 1 dose ages 19 to 65 (protects against 13 types of pneumococcal bacteria)
PPSV23: 1 to 2 doses through age 64, or 1 dose at 65 or older (protects against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria)
Recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV)
All women ages 50 and older
2 doses; the 2nd dose is given 2 to 6 months after the first. This is given even if you've had shingles before or had a previous zoster live vaccine.