Life-Saving Tests All Women Should Have
In Your 20s and 30s
- A complete physical exam, including a blood pressure and cholesterol check
- A yearly pelvic exam and pap smear by age 21-whether you are sexually active or not
- Regular breast exams
- Total skin checks every three years to analyze freckles and moles to catch skin cancer early. It is one of the deadliest cancers for women under 30.
- A thyroid check at age 35. An unhealthy thyroid can lead to depression, weight gain, mental and physical fatigue, and heart damage.
In your 40s, 50s and 60s+
- An eye exam once a year after age 40. Make sure your doctor tests for glaucoma, a disease that can cause blindness without any symptoms or warning.
- A yearly mammogram
- A colonoscopy at age 50 to check for colon cancer, even if there is no family history of the disease
- For women 65 and older, checkups should include a blood pressure check, complete blood work, a urinalysis and a hearing test.
- Since women are more than twice as likely as men to develop osteoporosis, get a baseline bone mineral density test to monitor your risk.