Important Tests for a Woman’s Good Health
Ages
18-39
40-49
50-64
65+
Discuss with your
healthcare
provider
Discuss with your
healthcare
provider
Discuss with your
healthcare
provider
Discuss with your
healthcare
provider
Thyroid test
(TSH)
Start at age 35,
then every 5 years
Every 5 years
Every 5 years
Every 5 years
Blood pressure
test
At least every 2
years
At least every 2
years
At least every 2
years
At least every 2
years
Cholesterol test
Start at age 20,
discuss with your
healthcare
provider
Discuss with your
healthcare
provider
Discuss with your
healthcare
provider
Discuss with your
healthcare
provider
Pap test &
pelvic exam
Every 1-3 years if
you have been
sexually active or
are older than 21
Every 1-3 years
Every 1-3 years
Discuss with your
healthcare
provider
If sexually active,
yearly until age 25.
Ages 26-39, if you
are at high risk* for
Chlamydia or other
STDs, you may
need this test
If you are at high
risk for Chlamydia
or other sexually
transmitted
diseases (STDs),
you may need this
test. See STD
section
If you are at high
risk for Chlamydia
or other sexually
transmitted
diseases (STDs),
you may need this
test. See STD
section
If you are at high
risk for Chlamydia
or other sexually
transmitted
diseases (STDs),
you may need this
test. See STD
section
Sexually
transmitted
disease (STD)
tests
Both partners
should get tested
for STDs, including
HIV, before
initiating sexual
intercourse
Both partners
should get tested
for STDs, including
HIV, before
initiating sexual
intercourse
Both partners
should get tested
for STDs, including
HIV, before
initiating sexual
intercourse
Both partners
should get tested
for STDs, including
HIV, before
initiating sexual
intercourse
Mammogram
(x-ray of breast)
Ages 35+ if you
are at risk**,
Discuss with your
healthcare
provider
Every 1-2 years.
Discuss with your
healthcare
provider
Every 1-2 years.
Discuss with your
healthcare
provider
Every 1-2 years.
Discuss with your
healthcare
provider
Full Check up
Chlamydia test
Double contrast
barium enema
(DCBE)
Not applicable
Every 5-10 years
(if not having
colonoscopy or
sigmoidoscopy)
Every 5-10 years
(if not having
colonoscopy or
sigmoidoscopy)
Discuss with your
healthcare
provider
Discuss with your
healthcare
provider
Every 5-10 years
with each
screening
colonoscopy,
DCBE or
sigmoidoscopy
Every 5-10 years
with each
screening
colonoscopy,
DCBE or
sigmoidoscopy
Fecal occult
blood test
Not applicable
Not applicable
Yearly
Yearly
Colonoscopy
Not applicable
Not applicable
Every 10 years
Every 10 years
Not applicable
Not applicable
Every 5 years
(if not having a
colonoscopy)
Every 5 years
(if not having a
colonoscopy)
Discuss with your
healthcare
provider
Start at age 45,
then every 3 years
Every 3 years
Every 3 years
Bone mineral
density test
Not applicable
Discuss with your
healthcare
provider
Discuss with your
healthcare
provider
Get a bone density
test at least once.
Talk to your doctor
about repeat
testing.
Dental exam
One or two times
every year
One or two times
every year
One or two times
every year
One or two times
every year
Get your eyes
checked if you
have problems or
visual changes
Every 2 - 4 years
Every 2 - 4 years
Every 1 - 2 years
Rectal exam
Flexible
sigmoidoscopy
Not applicable
(with fecal occult
blood test is
preferred)
Diabetes
blood sugar
test
Eye exam
Hearing test
Start at age 18,
then every 10
years
Mole exam
Monthly mole selfexam; by a doctor
every 3 years,
starting at age 20
Every 10 years
Discuss with your
healthcare
provider
Discuss with your
healthcare
provider
Monthly mole selfexam; by a doctor
every year
Monthly mole selfexam; by a doctor
every year
Monthly mole selfexam; by a doctor
every year
* Chlamydia risk factors





Age: 15-25 years old
Gender: Chlamydia trachomatis is more common in females. Lymphogranoloma venereum
(LGV) is six times more common in males. LGV is another other sexually transmitted disease
that is caused by the chlamydia bacteria
Multiple sex partners
Having sex without a condom
History of sexually transmitted diseases
www.aurorahealthcare.org
** Breast cancer risk factors










Older age
Menstruating at an early age
Older age at first birth or never having given birth.
A personal history of breast cancer or benign (non cancer) breast disease.
A mother or sister with breast cancer.
Treatment with radiation therapy to the breast/chest.
Breast tissue that is dense on a mammogram.
Taking hormones such as estrogen and progesterone.
Drinking alcoholic beverages.
Being white
www.cancer.gov
Colonoscopy – An internal examination of the colon (large intestine) and rectum, using an
instrument called a colonoscope.
DCBE – Double contrast Barium Enema, is a test that is used to screen for colon cancer & other
bowel conditions and diseases.
Sigmoidoscopy – An internal examination of the large intestine from the rectum through the last
part of the colon. A length of flexible tube connected to a fiber optic camera is used.
STD’s - A sexually transmitted infection (STI), also known as sexually transmitted disease
(STD) or venereal disease (VD), is an illness that has a significant probability of transmission
between humans by means of human sexual behavior, including vaginal intercourse, oral sex,
and anal sex.
HIV - Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that causes acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in humans in which the immune system begins
to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections.
Chlamydia - is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in humans caused by bacterium.
If untreated, chlamydia infections can cause serious reproductive and other health problems with
both short-term and long-term consequences