Your Preventive Care Checklist
Female 50-64
Based on your answers, this is the recommended preventive care for your life stage.
Exams
For Women aged 50-64, having routine physicals and exams, even when you’re healthy, can help maintain your overall wellness. Regular appointments with your care team can also help catch problems early on before they become more difficult to treat.
Use the checklist below to check off annual exams you have already completed:
- Comprehensive physical exam
- Well-Woman visit
- Routine blood work
- Dental exam
Comprehensive physical exam
Annual physical exams are important because you get a chance to talk to your primary care doctor about your health and address medical issues before they become a problem.
During a comprehensive physical exam, your doctor may:
- Assess your overall health
- Take your vital signs, height and weight
- Review your health history, allergies and medication list along with any recent changes or concerns you have about your physical and mental health
- Recommend screenings, immunizations and blood work
- Discuss your health goals and topics like mental wellness, sexual health and substance abuse
Annual Well-Woman visit
This visit is specifically tailored to health concerns that affect women. It is important to visit your gynecologist at least once a year, even if you are healthy.
What to expect during your Well-Woman visit:
- Breast exam
- Pelvic exam
- PAP smear, as directed
- Discuss family planning or sexual health
Routine blood work
There are different types of blood work that can be done to help maintain your health:
- Complete blood count (CBC) – group of tests that measures and counts your blood cells, which include red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, hemoglobin, and hematocrit.
- Basic metabolic panel (BMP) – measure glucose (sugar) level, electrolyte and fluid balance and kidney function.
- Cholesterol screening – you may have a baseline lipid panel, but you may also need this screening based on specific risk factors or symptoms.
Dental exam
It’s recommended that you see your dentist at least once a year. Dental exams are important because they prevent dental issues, detect problems early, promote gum health, and offer personalized oral health advice.
Additional health checks
In addition to the standard annual visits, your clinician may order:
- Additional blood tests – for diabetes, thyroid disease, liver disease, and anemia based on symptoms, risk factors or family history.
- Urinalysis – tests urine to screen for certain conditions.
- Hepatitis C screening – for certain risk factors, this additional blood test checks specifically for a hepatitis C infection.
- Sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening – including HIV testing, these screenings may require a sample of urine, blood, tissue or saliva.
Immunizations & Vaccines
Vaccines are an important way to protect yourself and others from preventable diseases, particularly in certain seasons. While not all vaccines are needed every year, speak with your doctor about which are recommended for you.
Use the checklist below to check off immunizations & vaccines you have already completed:
- Influenza vaccine
- Tdap vaccine
- Herpes zoster (shingles)
- COVID-19 vaccine
Influenza vaccine
One dose is recommended annually during flu season and can keep you from getting sick and needing medical attention with the flu and protect those around you from getting sick. Learn More.
Tdap vaccine
The Tdap vaccine is recommended every 10 years to protect you from Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis. Your doctor can help you keep track of when you are due for a booster shot.
Herpes zoster (shingles)
Even if you have previously had shingles, the shingles vaccine, often given in two doses, can help prevent future occurrences and complications of the disease.
COVID-19 vaccine
See the latest guidelines on the recommendations for vaccinations and boosters for the COVID-19 vaccine here.
Screenings
The sooner diseases are caught, the sooner they can be treated – which means better results. Keeping up to date with your cancer screenings will help you stay in good health for years to come.
Use the checklist below to check off screenings you have already completed:
- Cervical cancer screening
- Breast cancer screening
- Osteoporosis
- Colorectal screening
Cervical cancer screening
Talk to your care team about the different options for early detection, which include a PAP smear (cervical cytology) screening and high-risk human papillomavirus test.
Breast cancer screening
Get a mammogram annually and talk to your doctor about any changes in your breasts to prevent breast cancer.
Osteoporosis
A bone density screening may be recommended for women younger than 65 years of age who are at an increased risk of osteoporosis. Talk to your doctor to find out if this screening is right for you.
Colorectal screening
There are different test options when screening for colorectal cancer, speak with your doctor about which test is right for you.
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