Here are the screening tests and immunizations that most women ages 18 to 39 need. Although you and your health care provider may decide that a different schedule is best for you, this plan can guide your discussion.
Screening | Who needs it | How often |
|---|---|---|
Alcohol misuse | All adults and pregnant women | At routine exams |
Anemia - Iron Deficiency | All pregnant women | At prenatal visits, especially the first |
Asymptomatic Bacteriuria (with urine culture) | All pregnant women | At 12–16 weeks' gestation or the first prenatal visit, if later |
Blood pressure | All adults | Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure recommends the following screening schedules: Every two years if blood pressure reading < 120/80 mm Hg, and Yearly if systolic blood pressure reading of 120 to 139 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure |
Women ages 20 years and older* Women under the age of 20 years, talk to your health care provider and make an informed decision about performing monthly breast self-exams based on your family history, current medical condition, and personal values. | Clinical breast exam every three years* | |
Women ages 21 and older | According to the American Cancer Society, all women should have Pap tests starting at age 21. Women between ages 21 and 29 should have a Pap test every three years. Women between the ages of 30 and 65 should have a Pap test plus an HPV test (called "co-testing") every five years. This is the preferred approach, but it is also acceptable to continue to have Pap tests alone every three years. A woman who has had a hysterectomy (with removal of the cervix) for reasons not related to cervical cancer and who has no history of cervical cancer or serious pre-cancer should not be screened. A woman who has been vaccinated against HPV should still follow the screening recommendations for her age group. | |
Sexually active women ages 24 and younger, pregnant women ages 24 and younger, and women at increased risk for infection | At routine exams | |
All adults in clinical practices that have staff and systems in place to assure accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and follow-up | At routine exams | |
Diabetes Mellitus, type 2 | Adults who are asymptomatic with sustained blood pressure (either treated or untreated) greater than 135/80 mm Hg | At routine exams |
Sexually active women at increased risk for infection, and pregnant women | At routine exams | |
Hepatitis B virus | All pregnant women | At first prenatal visit |
Anyone at increased risk for infection, and pregnant women | At routine checkups | |
All adults | At routine checkups | |
Preeclampsia | Given the availability of new evidence, USPSTF has decided to update this recommendation. The recommendation below may contain information that is out of date. Please consult your health care provider. All pregnant women | This recommendation below may contain information that is out of date. Please consult your health care provider. At routine checkups |
h (D) Incompatibility | All pregnant women | First prenatal visit |
Rubella | Given the availability of new evidence, USPSTF has decided to update this recommendation. The recommendation below may contain information that is out of date. Please consult your health care provider. All pregnant women | The recommendation below may contain information that is out of date. Please consult your health care provider. At routine checkups |
Women at increased risk for infection, and all pregnant women | At routine exams | |
Tuberculosis | Anyone at increased risk for infection | Check with your health care provider. |
Counseling | Who needs it | How often |
Breast cancer, chemoprevention | An update to this recommendation is currently in progress and being reviewed by the USPSTF. The recommendation below may contain information that is out of date. Please consult your health care provider. Women with high risk | The recommendation below may contain information that is out of date. Please consult your health care provider. When risk is identified |
BRCA mutation testing for breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility | Women with increased risk | When risk is identified |
Breastfeeding | All pregnant women | During pregnancy and after delivery |
Diet, behavioral counseling | Adults with hyperlipidemia and other known risk factors for cardiovascular and diet-related chronic disease | When diagnosed |
Tobacco use and Tobacco-Cause Disease | All adults | Every visit |
Immunization | Who needs it | How often |
Human papillomavirus (HPV) | Recommended for all females ages 11 to 26 years | Three doses The second dose should be given one to two months after the first dose, and the third dose should be given six months after the first dose. |
Tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Td/Tdap) booster | All adults | Td: Every 10 years Tdap: Substitute a one-time dose of Tdap for a Td booster--Once after age 18 |
Chickenpox (varicella) | All adults ages 19 to 49 years and who lack evidence of immunity (for example, no documentation of prior infection or vaccinations) Pregnant women should be assessed for evidence of immunity. | Two doses. The second dose should be administered four to eight weeks after the first dose. |
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine | All adults ages 19 to 49 years and who lack evidence of immunity (for example, no documentation of prior infection or vaccinations) | One or two doses |
Flu vaccine (seasonal) | People at risk** | Yearly |
Hepatitis A vaccine | People at risk** | Two doses. Schedule: Zero and 6 to 12 months (Havrix), OR Zero and 6 to 18 months schedule (Vaqta) |
Hepatitis B vaccine | People at risk** | Three doses. Second dose should be administered one month after the first dose; the third dose should be administered at least two months after the second dose (and at least four months after the first dose) |
Meningococcal | People at risk** | One or more doses |
Pneumococcal (polysaccharide) | People at risk** | One or two doses |
*According to the American Cancer Society, women ages 20 to 39 years should have a clinical breast exam as part of their routine health exam every three years, and breast self-exams are an option for women starting in their twenties.
**Exceptions may exist; please discuss with your health care provider
Other guidelines are from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)
Immunization schedule from the CDC
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