Check the Box: Get Screened for Common Women’s Health Conditions
The checklist below shows which screenings are recommended for your age group. Schedule your screenings today and “Check the Box” for your health!
Note: Your doctor may suggest earlier or more frequent screening, or screening for other conditions, based on your personal risk.
| Your age | Check the box for these screening tests | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 20s-30s | ☐ Blood pressure | Every 2 years if normal and no risk factors |
| ☐ Cervical cancer | Start at age 25; frequency depends on type of test | |
| ☐ Cholesterol | Every 4-6 years if heart disease risk remains low | |
| ☐ Diabetes | Screening only if you have risk factors | |
| ☐ Mental health | Brief questionnaires or conversations with doctor | |
| ☐ Skin cancer | Self-check and contact doctor if changes like spots getting bigger | |
| 40s | ☐ Blood pressure | At least yearly |
| ☐ Breast cancer | Age 40-44: option for yearly screening; age 45-49: yearly | |
| ☐ Cervical cancer | Continue screening; frequency depends on type of test | |
| ☐ Cholesterol | Every 4-6 years, or more often if you have risk factors | |
| ☐ Diabetes | Start at age 45 if no risk factors | |
| ☐ Mental health | Brief questionnaires or conversations with doctor | |
| ☐ Colorectal cancer | First screening at age 45 | |
| ☐ Skin cancer | Self-check and contact doctor if changes like spots getting bigger | |
| 50s | ☐ Blood pressure | At least yearly |
| ☐ Bone density | DXA scan at age 50 if risk factors for osteoporosis | |
| ☐ Breast cancer | Age 50-54: yearly; age 55-59: every other year OR yearly | |
| ☐ Cervical cancer | Continue screening; frequency depends on type of test | |
| ☐ Cholesterol | Every 4-6 years, or more often if you have risk factors | |
| ☐ Diabetes | Every 3 years as long as results are normal | |
| ☐ Mental health | Brief questionnaires or conversations with doctor | |
| ☐ Colorectal cancer | Continue screening | |
| ☐ Skin cancer | Self-check monthly, see dermatologist if concerns | |
| ☐ Lung cancer | Yearly low-dose CT scan if current or former smoker | |
| 60s | ☐ Blood pressure | At least yearly |
| ☐ Bone density | DXA scan at age 65 if no risk factors for osteoporosis | |
| ☐ Breast cancer | Continue screening if life expectancy is 10 years or more | |
| ☐ Cervical cancer | Stop after age 65 if regularly screened and recent results were normal | |
| ☐ Cholesterol | Every 4-6 years, or more often if you have risk factors | |
| ☐ Diabetes | Every 3 years if results are normal | |
| ☐ Mental health | Brief questionnaires or conversations with doctor | |
| ☐ Cognitive health (thinking, memory) | Part of yearly Medicare wellness visit; speak with your doctor if concerns | |
| ☐ Colorectal cancer | Continue screening | |
| ☐ Skin cancer | Self-check monthly, see dermatologist if concerns | |
| ☐ Lung cancer | Yearly low-dose CT scan if current or former smoker | |
| 70s | ☐ Blood pressure | At least yearly |
| ☐ Bone density | As recommended by your doctor based on initial results | |
| ☐ Breast cancer | Continue screening if life expectancy is 10 years or more | |
| ☐ Cervical cancer | Stop if regularly screened and recent results were normal | |
| ☐ Cholesterol | Every 4-6 years, or more often if you have risk factors | |
| ☐ Diabetes | Every 3 years if results are normal | |
| ☐ Mental health | Brief questionnaires or conversations with doctor | |
| ☐ Cognitive health (thinking, memory) | Covered by yearly Medicare wellness visit | |
| ☐ Colorectal cancer | Continue screening until 75, then individual decision | |
| ☐ Skin cancer | Self-check monthly, see dermatologist if concerns | |
| ☐ Lung cancer | Yearly low-dose CT scan if current or former smoker | |
| 80s | ☐ Blood pressure | At least yearly |
| ☐ Bone density | As recommended by your doctor based on initial results | |
| ☐ Breast cancer | Continue screening if life expectancy is 10 years or more | |
| ☐ Cervical cancer | Stop if regularly screened and recent results were normal | |
| ☐ Cholesterol | Every 4-6 years, or more often if you have risk factors | |
| ☐ Diabetes | Every 3 years if results are normal | |
| ☐ Mental health | Brief questionnaires or conversations with doctor | |
| ☐ Cognitive health (thinking, memory) | Covered by yearly Medicare wellness visit | |
| ☐ Colorectal cancer | Individual decision until age 85, then stop | |
| ☐ Skin cancer | Self-check monthly, see dermatologist if concerns | |
| ☐ Lung cancer | Not recommended |
More information on screening and risk factors
Blood pressure – Consider monitoring at home if you have a family history or other risk factors such as being of Black, Asian, or Hispanic race/ethnicity or having chronic kidney disease.
Bone density – Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan. Risk factors for osteoporosis include having a fracture after age 50, family history of osteoporosis and/or fracture, frequent falling, vitamin D deficiency, smoking, significant alcohol drinking, malabsorption, or taking certain medications.
Breast cancer – Mammogram for the vast majority of women; Mammogram + MRI for those at highest risk
Cervical cancer – Preferred method is HPV test of a cervical sample collected by a healthcare provider, every 5 years. Other options include Pap + HPV test, an HPV test using a self-collected sample (every 3 years), and Pap test alone (every 3 years).
Cholesterol – Blood draw, usually after fasting for several hours.
Diabetes – Blood draw for hemoglobin A1C and/or fasting blood glucose. You should be screened if you have risk factors: over age 45, overweight/obese, Black American, Asian American, Latino/Hispanic American, Native American or Pacific Islander, family history, sedentary lifestyle, certain other health conditions. If your blood glucose levels (results of screening) are normal, get tested every 3 years.
Mental health – Short questionnaires screen for depression, anxiety, substance use symptoms.
Cognitive health (memory, thinking) – Usually short questionnaire if concerns are noticed.
Colorectal (colon) cancer – Colonoscopy or a newer non-invasive test; ask your doctor.
Lung cancer – Yearly low-dose CT if smoke now OR smoked at least 1 pack/day for 20 years.
Skin cancer – Self-check monthly. See a dermatologist if you find suspicious or changing spots.