Women's Health

Women and men have many of the same health problems, but they can affect women differently. For example, women may have different symptoms of heart disease. Some diseases or conditions are more common in women, such as osteoarthritis, obesity and depression. And some conditions, such as menopause and pregnancy, are unique to women.

Common Screening Tests for Women:

Full checkup, including height and weight: Discuss the timing with your health care professional

Thyroid (TSH) test: Discuss with your health care professional 

HIV test: Women ages 18 to 64 should get this test at least once to find out their HIV status. Ask your health care professional if and when you need the test again. Women 65 and older should discuss with their health care professional. 

Blood pressure: At least every two years 

Cholesterol: Start at age 20; women 40 and older should discuss how often they need the test with a health care professional. 

Bone density screening: Women ages 40 to 64 should discuss the timing of the test with a health care professional; women 65 and older should get a bone mineral density test at least once and talk to a health care professional about repeat testing. 

Blood glucose test for diabetes: Women 18 to 39 should discuss the test with a health care professional; start testing at age 45 and repeat every three years. 

Mammogram: Women 40 to 49 should discuss with a health care professional; women 50 and older should get a mammogram every two years and discuss with a health care professional. 

Clinical breast exam: Discuss with a health care professional. 

Pap test: Every one to three years if you have been sexually active or are older than 21. Women older than 65 should discuss with a health care professional. 

Pelvic exam: Yearly beginning at age 21. Women younger than 21 who are sexually active should discuss the test with a health care professional. 

Sexually transmitted infections: Both partners should get tested for STIs, including HIV, before initiating sexual intercourse. 

Mental health screening: Discuss with your health care professional. 

Colorectal health: Screening should begin at age 50 using one of three tests: 

• Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) - Yearly for women ages 50 to 75; women older than 75 should discuss with their health care professional
• Flexible signoidoscopy with FOBT - Every 5 years for women 50 to 75; women older than 75 should discuss with their health care professional
• Colonoscopy - Every 10 years for women 50 to 75; women older than 75 should discuss with their health care professional 

Skin health: Monthly mole self-exam; exam by a health care professional as part of a rountin full checkup starting at age 20.