Screening tests are key to managing your health. A screening test is done to find problems 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.
Below are guidelines for women ages 50 to 64. Work with your healthcare provider. Make sure you’re up-to-date on what you need.
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Screening
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Who needs it
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How often
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Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes
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All women in this age group who are overweight or obese, or had gestational diabetes
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At least every 3 years
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Type 2 diabetes
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All women with prediabetes
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Every year
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Unhealthy alcohol use
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All women in this age group
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At routine exams
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Blood pressure
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All women in this age group
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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.
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Breast cancer
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All women in this age group at average risk. Expert groups vary on their advice so talk with your provider about your specific situation.
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A mammogram is advised every 1 or 2 years. Talk with your provider about your risk factors. Ask how often you need one.
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The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force advises a mammogram every 2 years starting at age 40.
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The American Cancer Society advises yearly mammograms for women through ages 45 to 54 and mammograms every 1 to 2 years for women ages 55 and older.
All women should know how their breasts normally look and feel. They should know the benefits and risks of breast cancer screening with mammograms.
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Cervical cancer
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All women in this age group, unless they have had a complete hysterectomy
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Primary HPV test every 5 years, a co-test (an HPV test with a Pap test) every 5 years, or a Pap test every 3 years. Talk with your healthcare provider about your risks and whether you need screening more often.
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Chlamydia
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Women who are sexually active and at higher risk of infection
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At yearly routine exams
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Colorectal cancer
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All women in this age group at average risk
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Talk with your healthcare provider about which test below is right for you:
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Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years
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Colonoscopy every 10 years
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CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years
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Yearly fecal occult blood test
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Yearly fecal immunochemical test (FIT)
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Stool DNA with FIT test every 3 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.
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Depression
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All adults
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At routine exams, including, all pregnant and postpartum women
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Gonorrhea
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Sexually active women who are at higher risk of infection
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At yearly routine exams
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Hepatitis C
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All adults
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At routine exams
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High cholesterol or triglycerides
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All adults
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Talk with your healthcare provider about your risk and how often to get screened.
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HIV
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All adults
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At least once between the ages of 13 and 64. Women at ongoing risk should be screened more often. Talk with your healthcare provider about your risk and how often to be screened.
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Lung cancer
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All women in this age group who are in fairly good health, are at higher risk for lung cancer, and who:
Expert groups vary in their advice. Talk with your healthcare provider.
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Yearly lung cancer screening with a low-dose CT scan (LDCT). Talk with your healthcare provider.
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Obesity
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All adults
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At routine exams
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Osteoporosis
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Women who are postmenopausal
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Talk with your healthcare provider.
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Syphilis
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Women who are at higher risk of infection.
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Talk with your healthcare provider.
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Tuberculosis
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Women who are at higher risk of infection
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Talk with your healthcare provider.
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Vision
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All adults
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At least every 1 to 2 years or as directed by your healthcare provider.
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Health counseling
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Who needs it
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How often
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BRCA gene mutation testing for breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility
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Women who are at higher risk of having this gene mutation. Talk with your healthcare provider.
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When your risk is known
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Breast cancer and chemoprevention
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Women who are at high risk for breast cancer. Talk with your healthcare provider.
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When your risk is known
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Diet and exercise
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Women who are overweight or obese
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When diagnosed, and then at routine exams
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Sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention
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Women who are at higher risk of infection. Talk with your healthcare provider.
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At routine exams
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Use of tobacco and the health effects it can cause
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All adults
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Every exam
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