Health Screening Guidelines for Women 65+

Screening

Who needs it

How often

Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes

All adults starting at age 35 and adults without symptoms at any age who are overweight or obese and have one or more additional risk factors for diabetes

At least every 3 years

Alcohol use or misuse

All adults

At routine exams

Blood pressure

All adults

Every year if your blood pressure reading is less than 120/80 mm Hg

If your blood pressure reading is higher than normal, follow the advice of your healthcare provider

Breast cancer

All women

Mammogram every other year or you may choose to continue mammograms every year

Cervical cancer

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), women older than 65 who have had regular screening with normal results over the past 10 years do not need to be screened for cervical cancer. Once screening is stopped, it should not be started again. Those with a history of serious cervical precancer should continue to be tested for 25 years after that diagnosis, even if testing goes past 65.

Discuss with your healthcare provider

Chlamydia

Women at increased risk for infection

At routine exams if at risk

Colorectal cancer

All women of average risk and in good health in this age group, through age 75. For women ages 76 to 85, talk with your healthcare provider about continued screening. For women 85 and older, experts don't advise screening.

The ACS recommends:

Several tests are available and used at different times.

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 plus 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 healthcare 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 healthcare provider about your health history and what colorectal cancer screening schedule is best for you.

Depression

All adults who have access to a clinical practice that has staff and systems in place to assure accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and follow-up

At routine exams

Gonorrhea

Sexually active women who are at increased risk for infection

At routine exams if at risk

HIV

Anyone at increased risk for infection

At routine exams if at risk

Hepatitis C

Anyone at increased risk; one time for those born between 1945 and 1965

At routine exams

High cholesterol and triglycerides

All women ages 20 and older at increased risk for coronary artery disease

At least every 5 years, or more frequently if recommended by your healthcare provider

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 smoking , 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

Obesity

All adults

At routine exams

Osteoporosis, postmenopausal

All women ages 65 and older

Bone density test at age 65, then follow-up as recommended by healthcare provider

Syphilis

Anyone at increased risk for infection

At routine exams if at risk

Tuberculosis

Anyone at increased risk for infection

Check with your healthcare provider

Vision

All adults

Every 1 to 2 years. If you have a chronic disease, check with your healthcare provider for exam frequency

Counseling

Who needs it

How often

Diet and exercise

Adults who are overweight or obese

When diagnosed and at routine exams

Fall prevention (exercise, vitamin D supplements)

All women in this age group

At routine exams

Sexually transmitted diseases prevention

All women at increased risk

At routine exams

Tobacco use and tobacco-related disease

All adults

Every exam