Women are the consummate caregivers, except when it comes to caring for themselves. In a study for the National Women's Health Resource Center conducted by Harris Interactive last year, 42 percent of women said that they believe their health has worsened over the last five years, and among that group, more than half attributed this decline to factors like stress. Keep your own health in check with these must-get medical exams, courtesy of WomensHealth.gov.
After age 20
☐ Blood-pressure test: Every 1 to 2 years
☐ Cholesterol test: Every five years
☐ Tetanus-diptheria vaccine: Every 10 years
☐ Pelvic exam: Every 1 to 3 years after age 21
☐ Pap test: Every 1 to 3 years
☐ HPV vaccine: Before age 26
☐ Clinical breast exams: Every three years
After age 30
☐ Blood-pressure test: Every 1 to 2 years
☐ Cholesterol test: Every five years
☐ Tetanus-diptheria vaccine: Every 10 years
☐ Pelvic exam: Every 1 to 3 years
☐ Pap test: Every 1 to 3 years
☐ HPV test: Every 1 to 3 years
☐ Clinical breast exams: Every three years
After age 40
☐ Blood-pressure test: Every 1 to 2 years
☐ Cholesterol test: Every five years
☐ Tetanus-diptheria vaccine: Every 10 years
☐ Pelvic exam: Every 1 to 3 years
☐ Pap test: Every 1 to 3 years
☐ HPV test: Every 1 to 3 years
☐ Clinical breast exams: Every three years
☐ Mammograms: Every 1 to 2 years
After age 50
☐ Blood-pressure test: Every 1 to 2 years
☐ Cholesterol test: Every five years
☐ Tetanus-diptheria vaccine: Every 10 years
☐ Pelvic exam: Every 1 to 3 years
☐ Pap test: Every 1 to 3 years
☐ HPV test: Every 1 to 3 years
☐ Clinical breast exams: Every three years
☐ Mammograms: Every 1 to 2 years
☐ Colonoscopy: Every 10 years
Before You Go
"Women need to know their numbers," Elizabeth Battaglino Cahill, RN, executive director of the National Women's Health Resource Center. That is, women should know their normal ranges—such as for blood pressure and weight—and they should ask their doctors what the numbers mean.
In addition to the tests above, Battaglino Cahill recommends annual physicals. Ask you doctor to screen you earlier for diseases like breast cancer, colon cancer, or osteoporosis if you have a family history.
If you have any questions, no matter how embarrassing or ridiculous they might seem, speak up. "One thing providers aren't good at is reading patients' minds," says Dr. Wanda Jones, director of HHS Office on Women's Health. It's okay to bring in information you found online, but keep in mind that you only have about 10 minutes with your doctor, so skip the 50-page printouts. To ensure that you're getting trustworthy information online, Jones recommends that patients look at sites like WebMD, those sponsored by the government or universities, and sites certified by Health on the Net, a not-for-profit portal to medical information.
