Here are the screening tests and immunizations that most women ages 50 to 64 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 | At routine exams |
Blood pressure | All adults | Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure recommends the following screening schedules: Every 2 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 of 80 to 89 mm Hg |
All women | Yearly mammogram and clinical breast exam* | |
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 | Women between the ages of 30 and 65 should have a Pap test plus an HPV test (called “co-testing”) every 5 years. This is the preferred approach, but it is also acceptable to continue to have Pap tests alone every 3 years. | |
Women at increased risk for infection | At routine exams | |
All adults starting at age 50 | According to the American Cancer Society: For tests that find polyps and cancer:
For tests that primarily find cancer:
The tests that are designed to find both early cancer and polyps are preferred if these tests are available to you and you are willing to have one of these more invasive tests. Talk with your doctor about which test is best for you. | |
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 | At routine exams | |
Anyone at increased risk for infection | At routine exams | |
Lipid Disorders | All women age 45 and older at increased risk for coronary artery disease | At least every five years |
All adults | At routine exams | |
Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal Women | 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 The recommendation below may contain information that is out of date.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 discuss with your health care provider. Women at age 60 who are at increased risk for osteoporotic fractures | Please consult your health care provider. |
Anyone at increased risk for infection | At routine exams | |
Tuberculosis | Anyone at increased risk for infection | Check with your health care provider. |
Counseling | Who needs it | How often |
Aspirin for prevention of cardiovascular events | At-risk adults Recommended for women age 55 to 79 years when the potential benefit of a reduction in ischemic strokes outweighs the potential harm of an increase in gastrointestinal hemorrhage. | When risk is identified, and please discuss with your health care provider. |
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 discuss with 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 |
Diet, behavioral counseling | Adults with hyperlipidemia and other known risk factors for cardiovascular and diet-related chronic disease | When diagnosed |
Tobacco use and Tobacco-Caused Disease | All adults | Every visit |
Immunization | Who needs it | How often |
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 |
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) | All adults age 50 to 64 who lack prior infection or documented vaccinations** | One dose |
Chickenpox (varicella) | Adults age 50 to 64 and who lack prior infection or documented vaccinations** | Two doses. The second dose should be administered four to eight weeks after the first dose. |
Flu vaccine (seasonal) | All adults | Yearly during flu season |
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 over six months 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 |
Zoster | All women age 60 and older** | One dose |
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