One of the many questions being asked about medical care these days is whether the routine checkup really helps keep people healthy. The value of checkups and their frequency depends mainly on your age and gender. Your personal and family medical history are also important. The following exams, measurements, and lab tests help identify treatable problems early. For many medical conditions, early treatment can help prevent more serious problems.

The recommendations listed below are based on guidelines developed by the American Academy of Family Physicians and the U.S. Preventive Health Task Force. They are guidelines for how often you should get routine checkups by your health care provider. If you have any ongoing health problems, you will probably need to see your provider more often. These schedules should be used for 'well care.'

In addition to seeing a health care provider regularly, you should try to maintain your weight at a comfortable, healthy level, do frequent physical activity or get regular exercise, and check your breasts every month.

What needs to be checked and how often?

Health care problems for women vary by age. Abnormal Pap smears and cancer of the cervix are more common in younger women. Breast cancer is more common in middle-aged and older women. For these reasons health care recommendations are different for different age groups.

Women 18 to 39 years old:

• Every year:
  • breast exam

  • Pap smear until you have had three normal ones and if you are still with the same sexual partner; then you can have one Pap smear every 3 years, unless you change partners or have an abnormal Pap smear

  • dental exam.
• Every 2 to 3 years:
  • blood pressure check

  • height and weight measurement

  • brief physical exam to screen for cancers of the thyroid, lymph nodes, ovaries, and skin.
• Every 5 years: cholesterol check.

Women 40 to 65 years old:

• Every year:
  • physical exam to screen for cancers of the breast, skin, thyroid, ovaries, uterus, lymph nodes, and rectum; exam includes a Pap smear every 1 to 3 years, depending on your personal history

  • dental exam.
• Every 1 to 2 years:
  • height and weight measurement

  • blood pressure check

  • stool sample checked for blood

  • mammogram according to the schedule you and your doctor have determined is best for you, based on your age and risk factors, including family history

  • vision and glaucoma check.
• Every 3 to 5 years:
  • cholesterol check

  • blood sugar check

  • sigmoidoscopy after age 50 to screen for colon cancer.

Women over 65 years old:

• Every year:
  • weight measurement

  • blood pressure check

  • mammogram

  • physical exam to screen for cancers of the skin, breast, thyroid, ovaries, uterus, lymph nodes, and rectum

  • stool sample checked for blood

  • dental exam.
• Every 1 to 3 years:
  • thyroid hormone check

  • blood count

  • cholesterol check

  • blood sugar check

  • hearing check

  • vision and glaucoma check

  • Pap smear

  • lab tests of urine sample.
• Every 3 to 5 years: sigmoidoscopy to screen for colon cancer.

What immunizations do I need to get?

Every young woman needs to be protected against rubella (German measles). If you are not protected and become infected with the measles virus during pregnancy, the baby could also become infected and develop severe deformities and disabilities. Vaccinations against mumps, measles, and rubella (MMR) are usually given as two shots during childhood after the age of 1 year. If you do not know if you are protected against German measles, you can have a blood test to see if you are protected, or you can have an MMR shot if you are not pregnant.

You should also have the following shots as an adult:

• influenza vaccine every year, especially if you are over 65 years old

• tetanus (Td) booster at least every 10 years to protect against lockjaw (tetanus)

• pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine at age 65.