Prevention Guidelines for Women 50-64
| Screening | Who needs it | How often |
| Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes | All adults starting at age 45 and adults without 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. If your blood pressure reading is higher than normal, follow the advice of your healthcare provider. |
| Breast cancer | All women | Yearly mammogram should be done until age 54. At age 55, switch to mammograms every other year. Or you may choose to continue yearly mammograms. |
| Cervical cancer | All women, except those who have had a hysterectomy with removal of the cervix for reasons not related to cervical cancer and have no history of cervical cancer or serious precancer | Pap test every 3 years or Pap test with human papillomavirus (HPV) test every 5 years or primary HPV testing every 5 years, or Pap test with reflex HPV test every 3 years |
| Chlamydia | Women at a higher risk for infection | At routine exams if at risk |
| Colorectal cancer | All women of average risk in this age group | According to the American Cancer Society (ACS): For tests that find polyps and cancer: Colonoscopy every 10 years (recommended) or Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, or CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years. For tests that primarily find cancer: Yearly fecal occult blood test, or yearly fecal immunochemical test every year, or stool fecal immunochemical test with 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 provider 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 provider about your health history and what colorectal cancer screening schedule is best for you. |
| 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 if at risk |
| High cholesterol and triglycerides | All women ages 45 and older at a higher risk for coronary artery disease | At least every 5 years |
| Obesity | All adults | At routine exams |
| Lung cancer | Women between the ages of 50 and 80 who are in fairly good health, are at higher risk for lung cancer, and who: Currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years, and have a 20-pack year history of smoking (1 pack/day for 20 years or 2 packs/day for 10 years) | Yearly lung cancer screening with a low-dose CT scan (LDCT); talk with your healthcare provider about your risk and situation |
| Osteoporosis, postmenopausal women | Women at age 60 who are at a higher risk for fractures caused by osteoporosis | Check with your health care provider |
| Syphilis | Adults 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 adults | Check with your healthcare provider for exam frequency. |
| Counseling | Who needs it | How often |
| Aspirin for prevention of cardiovascular problems | At-risk adults Recommended for women ages 55 to 79 years when the potential benefit of reducing strokes outweighs the potential harm of an increase in gastrointestinal bleeding | When risk is identified; talk with your healthcare provider before starting |
| 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 | Women who are overweight or obese | When diagnosed |
| Sexually transmitted disease prevention | Adults at a higher risk for infection | At routine exams |
| Tobacco use and tobacco-related disease | All adults | Every exam |
| Alcohol use and alcohol-related disease | All adults | Every exam |
