Health Screenings Women Should Know About — By Age

Which screenings apply to most adult women throughout their lives?

Blood pressure: Routine blood pressure checks are recommended for all adults 3Ref 3Krist AH, Davidson KW, Mangione CM, et al. (US Preventive Services Task Force) (2021).Screening for Hypertension in Adults: US Preventive Services Task Force Reaffirmation Recommendation Statement.Blood pressure screening recommendation for all adults. High blood pressure usually causes no symptoms and is detected only by measurement. Frequency depends on your numbers and risk.

Depression screening: USPSTF recommends screening adult women for depression during routine care, including during and after pregnancy 6Ref 6O'Connor E, Henninger M, Perdue LA, et al. (2023).Screening for Depression and Suicide Risk in Adults: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.Depression screening for adult women during routine care, including during and after pregnancy.

Anxiety screening: USPSTF recommends anxiety screening for adults, with specific emphasis on women including in the perinatal period 7Ref 7US Preventive Services Task Force (2023).Screening for Anxiety Disorders in Adults: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.Anxiety screening recommendation for adults with emphasis on women including in the perinatal period.

Blood sugar (glucose or A1c): Screening for type 2 diabetes and prediabetes is recommended for adults aged 35 to 70 who are overweight or obese, and earlier for those with risk factors 8Ref 8US Preventive Services Task Force (2021).Screening for Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.Diabetes and prediabetes screening for adults aged 35–70 who are overweight or obese.

When should women start cervical cancer screening?

A Pap smear is recommended starting at age 21, regardless of when sexual activity began. Between ages 21 and 29, Pap smears are typically done every 3 years. From ages 30 to 65, the options are a Pap smear every 3 years, an HPV test alone every 5 years, or a Pap plus HPV co-test every 5 years 1Ref 1US Preventive Services Task Force (2018).Screening for Cervical Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.Cervical cancer screening intervals by age: Pap every 3 years starting at 21; co-test or HPV every 5 years from 30–65.

After 65, most women who have had adequate prior negative screenings can stop. Your specific history — prior abnormal results, prior treatment, immune status — may change your schedule. Women who are immunocompromised may need more frequent screening.

When should women start mammograms for breast cancer screening?

USPSTF recommends biennial (every two years) mammography beginning at age 40 for women at average risk 2Ref 2Nicholson WK, Silverstein M, Wong JB, et al. (US Preventive Services Task Force) (2024).Screening for Breast Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.Biennial mammography starting at age 40 for average-risk women. Guidelines from different organizations have varied on the exact starting age; the 2024 USPSTF recommendation moved the start to 40, making this an area of active clinical discussion.

Women with a higher personal or family history risk — such as a first-degree relative with breast or ovarian cancer, or a known BRCA gene variant — may be recommended to start earlier or have additional imaging such as MRI. Talk to your clinician about your personal breast cancer risk and what schedule makes sense for you.

When should women start colorectal cancer screening?

Colorectal cancer screening is recommended for all adults beginning at age 45 4Ref 4Davidson KW, Barry MJ, Mangione CM, et al. (US Preventive Services Task Force) (2021).Screening for Colorectal Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.Colorectal cancer screening starting at age 45 for all adults. There are several test options:

• Stool-based tests (done at home): annual fecal immunochemical test (FIT) or less frequent multi-target stool DNA tests.
• Colonoscopy: both a screening and a treatment tool — polyps can be removed at the time of the procedure. Recommended every ten years if clear.

Which test is best depends on your preference, risk factors, access, and clinician recommendation. Screening continues until age 75 for most people; the decision after 75 is individualized. A family history of colorectal cancer generally moves the start date earlier.

When should women get a bone density scan?

A DEXA bone density scan is recommended for women aged 65 and older 5Ref 5US Preventive Services Task Force (2018).Screening for Osteoporosis to Prevent Fractures: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.DEXA bone density screening for women 65 and older; earlier for postmenopausal women with risk factors. Women younger than 65 who are postmenopausal and have additional risk factors — family history of osteoporosis, small body frame, history of fractures, long-term corticosteroid use — may be recommended to screen earlier.

Osteoporosis is very treatable when caught before a fracture occurs, which is why early identification matters.

What other screenings are relevant for women — cholesterol, lung cancer, and STIs?

Cholesterol and cardiovascular risk: Lipid screening is recommended for women, with timing and frequency depending on cardiovascular risk factors 9Ref 9Grundy SM, Stone NJ, Bailey AL, et al. (2019).2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Guideline on the Management of Blood Cholesterol.Lipid screening and cardiovascular risk assessment using cholesterol values alongside other risk factors. Clinicians use cholesterol values alongside age, blood pressure, diabetes status, and smoking history to estimate overall heart disease risk.

Lung cancer screening: Low-dose CT lung cancer screening is recommended for current or former smokers aged 50–80 with a significant smoking history (20 pack-years or more) who currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years 10Ref 10Krist AH, Davidson KW, Mangione CM, et al. (US Preventive Services Task Force) (2021).Screening for Lung Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.Low-dose CT lung cancer screening for adults aged 50–80 with 20 pack-year smoking history.

STI screening: USPSTF recommends chlamydia and gonorrhea screening for sexually active women under 25 and for older women at increased risk 11Ref 11US Preventive Services Task Force; Davidson KW, Barry MJ, Mangione CM, et al. (2021).Screening for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.Chlamydia and gonorrhea screening for sexually active women under 25 and older women at increased risk. HIV screening is recommended for all adults at least once and more frequently for those at higher risk 12Ref 12US Preventive Services Task Force; Owens DK, Davidson KW, Krist AH, et al. (2019).Screening for HIV Infection: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.HIV screening for all adults at least once; more frequently for those at higher risk.