Female Health Screening Guidelines for Ages 65 and Older

Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes

Those in this age group up to age 70 who have obesity or who are not at a weight that's healthy for them

Talk with your doctor about how often they recommend screening.

Type 2 diabetes

Those with prediabetes

Every 1 to 2 years

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 your doctor's advice.

Breast cancer

All those of average risk. Expert groups vary on their advice. Talk with your doctor about your situation.

A mammogram should be done every 1 or 2 years. Talk with your doctor about your risk factors. Ask how often you need the test. Ask what age you can stop. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force advises a mammogram every 2 years through age 74. The American Cancer Society advises screening every 1 to 2 years for everyone age 55 and older. They advise screening to continue for as long as you are healthy and expected to live 10 more years or longer.

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

Only those who have not been screened regularly or have had abnormal screening results before age 65

Talk with your doctor to find out if screening is needed.

Chlamydia

Those who are at higher risk for infection

At routine exams. Talk with your doctor.

Colorectal cancer

All those at average risk in this age group through age 75. If you are age 76 to 85, ask your doctor if you need to keep screening. For those older than 85, screening is not advised.

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

• Colonoscopy every 10 years
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years (or every 10 years with yearly fecal immunochemical test (FIT) stool test)
• CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years
• Yearly fecal occult blood test
• Yearly FIT
• Stool DNA 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

Everyone in this age group

At routine exams

Gonorrhea

Those who are sexually active, at higher risk for infection

At yearly routine exams. Talk with your doctor.

Hepatitis C

Test one time for those through age 79.

At a routine exam

High cholesterol or triglycerides

All in this age group who are at risk for coronary artery disease

Every year. Talk with your doctor about your risk.

HIV

All who are at higher risk for infection

At routine exams. Talk with your doctor.

Lung cancer

All those ages 50 to 80 who are in fairly good health, are at higher risk for lung cancer, and who:

• Smoke or have quit smoking, and
• Have a 20-pack 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 about your risk factors.

Obesity

All in this age group

At yearly routine exams

Osteoporosis

All in this age group

Every 2 years. Repeat as advised by your doctor.

Syphilis

All who are at higher risk for infection

At routine exams. Talk with your doctor.

Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH)

All those in this age group with symptoms of thyroid dysfunction

Talk with your doctor.

Tuberculosis

All who are at higher risk for infection

Talk with your doctor.

Vision

Everyone in this age group

Every 1 to 2 years. If you have a chronic health condition, ask your eye care doctor if you need exams more often.

Diet and exercise

All those who have obesity or who are not at a weight that's healthy for them

When diagnosed, and then at routine exams

Fall prevention (exercise and vitamin D supplements)

Everyone in this age group

At routine exams

Sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention

All who are at higher risk for infection

At routine exams. Talk with your doctor.

Use of tobacco and nicotine products and the health effects they can cause

All those in this age group

Every exam