What Types of Screenings Do I Need for My Age?

A relationship with an OB/GYN doctor is lifelong—from puberty to later life and everything in between. At different stages along the way, it is important to make sure that your health is protected by appropriate tests and screenings.

At Summit Women’s Health, we make sure the West Virginia grandmoms, moms, and daughters are all getting the care they need. Learn more about the tests and screenings that you may want to engage with at different ages:

Preteens and Teens

The HPV vaccine is strongly recommended for girls aged 11 or 12, even if menstruation has not yet occurred. This vaccine is incredible for preventing infection with strains of HPV later in life. The strains prevented by the vaccine commonly cause cervical cancer and death. Pediatricians can also administer the vaccine.

Teens may also start a relationship with their gynecologist when they reach menstruation if they choose. Otherwise, a first appointment with a gynecologist should be scheduled around age 20 or whenever the patient becomes sexually active.

Ages 21–30

Annual gynecological checkups should start around age 21, if not before.

From ages 21 to 30 or 35, it is recommended that women receive a breast exam every 1-3 years and a Pap smear every 3 years.

If sexually active, women in their 20s are also strongly recommended to seek regular chlamydia and gonorrhea screening. Though we always want to believe STIs won’t happen to us, they are incredibly common, and these two STIs can cause serious problems if left untreated.

Ages 30–40

Annual checkups are still recommended. It is also important to continue to screen for HPV during this time, which can be done through a Pap smear every 3 years, an HPV test every 5 years, or both a Pap and an HPV test every 5 years (this is called “co-testing”).

This is not directly related to gynecological health, but it is also recommended that women get prediabetes and Type II diabetes screening between 30 and 40. Your gynecologist can run the blood tests needed for these screenings.

Ages 40–50

In one’s 40s, the cycle of Pap smear and HPV testing is recommended to continue every 3 or 5 years, per the cycle you were on in your 30s.

At this time, it is also recommended that women receive mammograms every 1-2 years and annual breast exams. If one’s 30s were the time to be more attentive to HPV and cervical cancer, one’s 40s are the time to be more attentive to breast cancer.

For women who are at high risk for breast cancer, your doctor may request regular breast MRIs for screening. Talk to your Summit Women’s Health provider about what may cause you to be high risk.

One note to keep in mind about breast cancer: If your mother or sister was diagnosed with breast cancer, it is recommended that you begin screening earlier than the age at which your youngest relative was diagnosed.

Ages 50–60

While continuing the cycle of Pap smear and/or HPV tests, women in their 50s should also begin screening for colon cancer. This may involve a colonoscopy or other tests.

Additionally, if annual mammograms were not already begun in one’s 40s, they should begin now.

65 onwards

Around age 65, most women can stop testing for HPV and/or receiving Pap smears. Instead, your provider may guide you through osteoporosis screening.

Osteoporosis is a common condition in which one’s bones become fragile because of certain vitamin or mineral deficiencies. Your Summit Women’s Health provider can guide you through treatments to help prevent bone breakage. As you can imagine, breaking a bone in one’s 60s, 70s, 80s, and onwards can have several other bad health outcomes that are best avoided.

One-time tests

At some point, it is strongly recommended that all people are tested for Hepatitis C and HIV.

In the U.S., it is estimated that 75% of people infected with Hepatitis C, and 13% of people infected with HIV are unaware that they are infected. This also means that you can end up being exposed to these diseases by someone you are close to without either of you knowing. It is important to test for them at least once between ages 18-75.

If you have any questions about the above screenings, give us our Princeton, WV, office a call at (681) 282-5591, or book an appointment here through our online portal.