Women's Health

Blood pressure is the force exerted on your blood vessel walls during and between heartbeats. It can be measured in a few seconds with an inflatable arm cuff. If your blood pressure is high, you may be at risk for stroke, heart disease, and kidney disease. Because high blood pressure usually has no symptoms, you probably won't know you have it unless you're getting screened. If it's high, it should be checked more often. Lifestyle changes, medications, or both can help lower blood pressure.

Recommendation for screening: Annually - or more often if directed by your healthcare provider.

Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance in the blood. To check cholesterol levels, a small blood sample is taken and sent to a lab. A high level of cholesterol in the blood is a major risk factor for heart disease and heart attack. According to the American Heart Association, everyone age 20 and older should have a cholesterol test every four to six years. The test should measure total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or bad cholesterol), high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or good cholesterol), and triglycerides (blood fats). If all of these numbers aren't available, total cholesterol and HDL should at least be checked. Lifestyle changes, medication, or both can help lower cholesterol and the risks of heart disease and stroke.

Recommendation for screening: Everyone age 20 and older should have a cholesterol test every five years, if normal. Testing may be more frequent if elevated or if taking medication.

Cervical cancer screening is completed by collecting cells from your cervix during a pelvic exam. Either a pap smear (testing for cancer or pre-cancer cells), testing for the presence of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), or both tests are completed. The type of test and frequency will be determined by your healthcare provider based on your age and risk factors. Some women aged 65 or older may safely stop testing if they meet certain criteria. Cervical cancer starts in the cervix, the lower opening of the uterus. Women are screened routinely to identify cancer early, when treatment is most successful. HPV is the most common cause of cervical cancer and can cause several other cancers in men and women. The American Cancer Society (ACS) reports that the HPV vaccine given to boys and girls lowers the chances of developing cancers caused by HPV (American Cancer Society, 2024).

Recommendation for screening: The ACS recommends regular Pap tests for all women starting at age 21.

Mammograms, a specialized X-ray of the breast, help detect breast cancer at an early stage when tumors are too small to feel, and treatment is most effective.

Recommendation for screening:

• Annual mammogram beginning at age 40.
• Check with your provider for a personalized plan if you have a personal history of breast cancer, a strong family history of breast cancer, a genetic mutation known to cause breast cancer, or if you have had chest radiation before age 30.
• See your provider if you notice any lumps, bumps, pain, or changes in your breast.

Colorectal cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in US women. (American Cancer Society, 2025). A conversation with your provider will help you determine whether a stool-based test or a colonoscopy with visual exam is right for you. Screening can catch cancer early or help prevent it by finding and removing growths that could become cancer.

Recommendation for screening:

• Beginning at age 45, for those of average risk.
• Talk with your provider if you have a personal history of colorectal cancer or polyps, a family history of colorectal cancer, a genetic mutation known to cause colorectal cancer, or if you have abdominal pain, blood in stools, or changes in your stool patterns. Earlier screening or testing may be recommended.

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that develops when bone density and mass decrease or when the structure and strength of bone change (National Institute of Health, 2022). These changes can increase the risk of fractures, leading to severe pain, loss of mobility, permanent disability, or death.

The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening of all women beginning at age 65 and earlier if risk factors are present. Some risk factors include older age, white or Asian women, small body frame, and family history (Mayo Clinic, 2025). Lifestyle factors that increase risk include low intake of calcium and vitamin D, inactivity, smoking, excessive alcohol intake, and taking certain medications (Mayo, 2025). Talk to your healthcare provider about steps you can take to keep your bones strong and reduce your risk of fractures.

According to the NIA, the best test for bone density is DXA (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry). This specialized X-ray shows the density of your bones. If your bones are becoming weak, lifestyle changes, medications, or both can help prevent, slow, or reverse bone loss.

Recommendation for screening: Age 65 and older.

A blood sugar test can detect the earliest stages of diabetes, a chronic disease that can have life-threatening consequences without proper treatment. CDC reports over 38 million Americans have diabetes, while many may not be aware. CDC also reports that over 97 million Americans over age 18 have prediabetes. (Centers for Disease Control, 2024). Lifestyle changes can help prevent or delay the onset of diabetes.

Recommendation for screening:

• The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening adults aged 35 to 70 years old who are overweight or obese.
• Your healthcare provider will determine when and how often to screen based on your individual risk factors.

Depression is a serious and treatable mental health condition. Mental Health America estimates that approximately 24 % of women in the US currently live with depression (Mental Health America, n.d.). Symptoms can be mental, behavioral, and physical. Talk to your healthcare provider or mental health professional about your symptoms. Screening involves a series of questions about symptoms.

Recommendation for screening: Screening and treatment should be part of everyone’s routine healthcare.

One in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70. (Skin Cancer Foundation, 2026). Regular screening can help identify skin cancer at an early stage when treatment is most effective. These exams seek out moles or growths that are larger than a pencil eraser, have irregular borders, are asymmetrical, or have color variations. Routine self-examination of your skin, along with screening by your provider, is effective in identifying changes that need further evaluation or treatment.

Recommendation for screening: Annually - or more often if directed by your healthcare provider.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common and serious infections. They can affect anyone. Women may or may not have symptoms. Some of these infections can lead to infertility, cancer, or death. STI testing can require a blood sample, urine sample, or vaginal swab.

Recommendation for screening: Talk to your healthcare provider to find out if you should be tested.