Prevention Guidelines for Women 40 to 49
Screening | Who needs it | How often |
---|---|---|
Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes | All adults starting at age 45 and adults with no symptoms at any age who are overweight or obese and have 1 or more additional risk factors for diabetes | At least every 3 years |
Alcohol misuse | All adults | At routine exams |
Blood pressure | All adults | Yearly checkup if your blood pressure is normal. Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg.1 If your blood pressure reading is higher than normal, follow the advice of your healthcare provider. |
Breast cancer | All women2 | Screening with a mammogram every year is an option starting at age 40. Talk to your healthcare provider regarding your recommended frequency depending on your risk factors. |
Cervical cancer | All women, except those who had a hysterectomy (with removal of the cervix) for reasons not related to cervical cancer and no history of cervical cancer or serious precancer | Women between the ages of 30 and 65 should have a Pap test plus an HPV test (called “co-testing”) every 5 years. This is the preferred approach. But it is also acceptable to continue to have Pap tests alone every 3 years. |
Colorectal cancer | Women of average risk ages 45 years and older | Several tests are available and used at different times. Tests include: Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, or CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years, or Colonoscopy every 10 years, or yearly fecal occult blood test, or yearly fecal immunochemical test every year, or stool DNA test, every 3 years. You will need a follow-up colonoscopy if you choose any test other than a colonoscopy and you have an abnormal result. Screening recommendations vary among expert groups. Talk with your doctor about which test is best for you. Some people should be screened using a different schedule because of their personal or family history. Talk with your doctor about your health history and what colorectal cancer screening schedule is best for you. |
Chlamydia | Women at a higher risk for infection | At routine exams if at risk |
Depression | All adults in clinical practices that have staff and systems in place to assure accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and follow-up | At routine exams |
Gonorrhea | Sexually active women at a higher risk for infection | At routine exams if at risk |
Hepatitis C | Adults at a higher risk; 1 time for those born between 1945 and 1965 | At routine exams if at risk |
HIV | All women | At routine exams |
Lipid disorders | All women age 45 and older at a higher risk for coronary artery diseaseFor women ages 19 to 44, screening should be based on risk factors; talk with your healthcare provider | At least every 5 years |
Obesity | All adults | At routine checkups |
Syphilis | Women at a higher risk for infection | At routine exams if at risk |
Tuberculosis | Adults at a higher risk for infection | Check with your healthcare provider. |
Vision | All adults3 | Baseline comprehensive exam at age 40; if you have a chronic disease, check with your healthcare provider for exam frequency. |
Counseling | Who needs it | How often |
Breast cancer, chemoprevention | Women at high risk | When risk is identified |
BRCA mutation testing for breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility | Women with a higher risk | When risk is identified |
Diet and exercise | Adults who are overweight or obese | When diagnosed and at routine exams |
Domestic violence | Women of child-bearing age and older women with a higher risk | At routine exams |
Sexually transmitted disease prevention | Adults at a higher risk for infection | At routine exams |
Tobacco use and tobacco-related disease | All adults | Every exam |
Immunization | Who needs it | How often |
Tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Td/Tdap) booster | All adults | Td: every 10 yearsTdap: substitute a one-time dose of Tdap for a Td booster after age 18, then boost with Td every 10 years |
Chickenpox (varicella) | All adults in this age group who have no record of previous infection or vaccinations | 2 doses; the second dose should be given at least 4 weeks after the first dose |
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) | All adults in this age group who have no record of previous infection or vaccinations | 1 or 2 doses |
Flu vaccine (seasonal) | All adults | Yearly, when the vaccine becomes available in the community |
Hepatitis A vaccine | People at risk4 | 2 doses given 6 months apart |
Hepatitis B vaccine | People at risk5 | 3 doses; the second dose should be given 1 month after the first dose; the third dose should be given at least 2 months after the second dose (and at least 4 months after the first dose). |
Haemophilus influenzae type B (HIB) | People at risk | 1 to 3 doses |
Meningococcal | People at risk** | 1 or 2 doses |
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) | People at risk | 1 or 2 doses |
1 American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines
2 American Cancer Society
3 Recommendation from the American Academy of Ophthalmology
4 For complete list, see the CDC website
5 Exceptions may exist. Please talk with your healthcare provider.
Other guidelines from the USPSTF
Immunization schedule from the CDC