Preventive Care guidelines for women

At least once a year, you should schedule a visit with your physician when you are NOT sick. During this visit you should discuss diet, exercise, medications, injury prevention, and preventive self-care.

19 to 39 Years

Yearly pap smears with your annual check-ups

Folic Acid - Women who plan on becoming pregnant should begin folic acid before they become pregnant .  Folic Acid reduces the risk of your baby having neural tube defects

Learn and do self breast exams. Contact your doctor if you find any abnormality

Yearly Blood Pressure checks  - more often if elevated

Immunizations/vaccinations - Tetanus-diphtheria booster every 10 years

40 to 49 Years

Yearly pap smears with your annual check-ups

Mammograms- every 1-2 years starting at 40

Continue self-breast exams

Blood Pressure checks different times during the year

Immunizations/vaccinations - Tetanus-diphtheria booster every 10 years

Cholesterol screening

50 to 64 Years

Pap smear - at least every 3 years unless you have had an abnormal reading in the past

Colonoscopy beginning at age 50 and then every 5 years unless abnormal findings

Mammograms - every 1-2 years until the age 70

Continue self-breast exams

Annual Flu shots

Tetanus-diphtheria booster every 10 years

Frequent Blood pressure checks

Cholesterol screening

65 and older

All of the above plus a Pneumonia shot (with a booster every 6 years)