Female Health Screening Guidelines, Ages 50 to 64

Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes

Those in this age group who are overweight or have obesity, or who had gestational diabetes

At least every 3 years

Type 2 diabetes

Those in this age group with prediabetes

Every year

Unhealthy alcohol use

All those in this age group

At routine exams

Blood pressure

All those in this age group

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 doctor.

Breast cancer

Those in this age group at average risk. Expert groups vary on their advice so talk with your doctor about your specific situation.

A mammogram is advised every 1 or 2 years. Talk with your doctor about your risk factors. Ask how often you need one.

• The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force advises a mammogram every 2 years starting at age 40.
• The American Cancer Society advises yearly mammograms through ages 45 to 54 and mammograms every 1 to 2 years for those ages 55 and older.

Everyone should know how their breasts normally look and feel. They should know the benefits and risks of breast cancer screening with mammograms.

Cervical cancer

All those in this age group, unless they have had a complete hysterectomy

Primary HPV test every 5 years, a cotest (an HPV test with a Pap test) every 5 years, or a Pap test every 3 years. In some cases, you may be able to collect your own HPV test sample and be tested every 3 years.Talk with your doctor about your risks and whether you need screening more often.

Chlamydia

Those who are sexually active and at higher risk of infection

At yearly routine exams

Colorectal cancer

Those in this age group at average risk

Talk with your doctor about which test below is right for you:

• Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years
• Colonoscopy every 10 years
• CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years
• Yearly fecal occult blood test
• Yearly fecal immunochemical test (FIT)
• 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 doctor.

Depression

All adults

At routine exams, including everyone who is pregnant or postpartum

Gonorrhea

Those who are sexually active and who are at higher risk of infection

At yearly routine exams

Hepatitis C

All adults

At least one time. If you keep having risk (for example, you inject drugs), your doctor may test you again.

Anyone who is pregnant should be tested during each pregnancy.

High cholesterol or triglycerides

All adults

• At least every 5 years up to age 55.
• Those who are ages 55 to 65 should be screened every 1 to 2 years.

Talk with your doctor about your risk and how often to get screened.

HIV

All adults

At least once between the ages of 13 and 64. Those who are at ongoing risk should be screened more often. Talk with your doctor about your risk and how often to be screened.

Lung cancer

Those in this age group who are in fairly good health, are at higher risk for lung cancer, and who:

• Smoke or used to smoke (quit within the past 15 years)
• Have a 20 pack-year smoking history (1 pack a day for 20 years or 2 packs a day for 10 years)

Expert groups vary in their advice. Talk with your doctor.

Yearly lung cancer screening with a low-dose CT scan (LDCT). Talk with your doctor.

Obesity

All adults

At routine exams

Osteoporosis

Those who are postmenopausal

Talk with your doctor.

Syphilis

Those who are at higher risk of infection

Talk with your doctor.

Tuberculosis

Those who are at higher risk of infection

Talk with your doctor.

Vision

All adults

At least every 1 to 2 years or as directed by your doctor

BRCA gene mutation testing for breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility

Those who are at higher risk of having this gene mutation. Talk with your doctor.

When your risk is known

Breast cancer and chemoprevention

Those who are at high risk for breast cancer. Talk with your doctor.

When your risk is known

Diet and exercise

Those who are overweight or have obesity

When diagnosed, and then at routine exams

Sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention

Those who are at higher risk of infection. Talk with your doctor.

At routine exams

Use of tobacco and the health effects it can cause

All adults

Every exam