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    Female Health Screening Guidelines for Ages 65 and Older

    Screening tests and health counseling are key parts of managing your health. A screening test is done to find disorders or diseases in people who don't have any symptoms. Screening tests are not used to diagnose. They are used to find out if more testing is needed. The goal may be to find a disease early so that it can be treated with more success. Or the goal may be to find a condition early so that you can make lifestyle changes. You may need regular checkups to help reduce your risk of disease.

    Below are guidelines for ages 65 and older. Talk with your doctor. Based on your health history and risk factors, your doctor may change the screening advice. Make sure you're up to date on what you need.

    Screening

    Who needs it

    How often

    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.

    Counseling

    Who needs it

    How 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

    Online Medical Reviewer: Robert Hurd MD
    Online Medical Reviewer: Tara Novick BSN MSN
    Date Last Reviewed: 7/1/2024
    © 2000-2026 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.
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    Southern New Mexico
    Surgery Center

    2301 Indian Wells Rd. Suite B
    Alamogordo, NM 88310
    www.snmsc.org

    Phone: 575.437.0890
    Fax: 575.437.0905
    Email: info@snmsc.org

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