Health Checkups for Women: Brief Version

How often should I get a checkup?

Here are guidelines for how often you should get a routine checkup. If you have any ongoing health problems, you should probably see your health care provider more often.

If you are 18 to 39 years old:

Once a year, you should have:

• A breast exam.
• A Pap test. (After you have had three normal Pap smears, ask your health care provider about how often you should have it done.)

Every 2 to 3 years, you should have:

• A blood pressure check.
• A height and weight measurement.
• An exam to look for cancers of the thyroid, lymph nodes, ovaries, and skin.

Every 5 years, you should have a:

• Cholesterol check.
• Blood sugar check if you are overweight.

Make sure you are up to date on your shots.

• Make sure you have had your rubella (measles) shot.
• Get a tetanus shot every 10 years.

If you are 40 to 65 years old:

Once a year, you should have:

• An exam to look for cancers of the breast, skin, thyroid, ovaries, uterus, lymph nodes, and rectum.
• A Pap test. (Ask your health care provider about how often you should have it done.)

Every 1 to 2 years, you should have:

• A height and weight measurement.
• A blood pressure check.
• A stool sample checked for blood.
• A mammogram. (After you're 50 years old, you should have a mammogram every year.)
• An eye exam (with a check for glaucoma).

Every 3 to 5 years, you should have a:

• Cholesterol check.
• Blood sugar check.
• Special test (sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy) for colon cancer after age 50.

Make sure you are up to date on your shots.

• Get a tetanus shot every 10 years.
• After you are 50 years old, get a flu shot every year.

If you are over 65 years old:

Every year, you should have:

• A height and weight measurement.
• A blood pressure check.
• A mammogram.
• An exam to look for cancers of the skin, breast, thyroid, ovaries, uterus, lymph nodes, and rectum.
• A stool sample checked for blood.

Every 1 to 3 years, your health care provider should:

• Check your blood count and blood sugar.
• Check your hearing and vision (with a check for glaucoma).
• Do a Pap test if you have had abnormal results before.

Every 5 years you should have a test (sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy) for colon cancer.

Get the shots you need:

• Get a flu shot every year.
• Get the pneumonia shot if you have not had one before.
• Get a tetanus shot every 10 years.

All women should remember the keys to keeping healthy.

• Eat many kinds of healthy foods.
• Keep a healthy weight.
• Exercise often.
• Get regular checkups and the shots you need.