Health Screening Guidelines, Women Ages 18 to 39
Screening tests and health counseling are a key part of managing your health. A screening test is done to find disorders or diseases in people who don't have any symptoms. Screening tests are not used to diagnose. They are used to find out if more testing is needed. The goal may be to find a disease early so it can be treated with more success. Or the goal may be to find a disease early so you can make lifestyle changes. You may need regular checkups to help you reduce your risk of disease.
Below are guidelines for women ages 18 to 39. Talk with your healthcare provider. Make sure you’re up-to-date on what you need.
We understand gender is a spectrum. We may use gendered terms to talk about anatomy and health risk. Please use this information in a way that works best for you and your provider as you talk about your care.
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Screening
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Who needs it
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How often
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Alcohol misuse
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All women in this age group
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At routine exams
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Blood pressure
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All women in this age group
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Once a year if your blood pressure is normal. Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg. If your blood pressure is higher than this, follow the advice of your healthcare provider.
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Breast cancer
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All women in this age group should talk with their healthcare provider about a clinical breast exam (CBE).1
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Clinical breast exam every 3 years
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Cervical cancer
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Women ages 21 and older
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Women ages 21 to 29 should have a Pap test every 3 years. Women ages 30 to 65 should have a Pap test and an HPV test every 5 years.
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Chlamydia
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Women who are sexually active. This includes those who are pregnant or who are:
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At routine yearly exams
If pregnant, during early prenatal care visit. Repeat in 3rd trimester for women at higher risk.
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Depression
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All women in this age group
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At routine exams
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Diabetes mellitus, type 2
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Women with no symptoms who are overweight or obese and have 1 or more other risk factors for diabetes
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At least every 3 years. Testing in pregnancy after the 24th week.
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Gonorrhea
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Women who are sexually active. This includes those who are pregnant or who are:
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At routine yearly exams
Test in pregnancy if age 25 or younger or if living in an area where gonorrhea is common
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Hepatitis C
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Anyone at higher risk
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At routine exams
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HIV
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All women
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At routine exams and in all pregnant people
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Obesity
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All women in this age group
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At routine exams
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Syphilis
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Women who are at higher risk for infection. Talk with your healthcare provider.
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At routine exams
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Tuberculosis
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Women who are at higher risk for infection. Talk with your healthcare provider.
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Ask your healthcare provider
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Vision
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All women in this age group
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At least 1 full exam in your 20s, and 2 in your 30s
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Health counseling
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Who needs it
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How often
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BRCA gene mutation testing for breast and ovarian cancer risk
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Women at higher risk for a gene mutation
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When your risk is known
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Breast cancer and chemoprevention
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Women at high risk for breast cancer
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When your risk is known
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Diet and exercise
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Women who are overweight or obese
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When diagnosed, and then at routine exams
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Domestic violence
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All women in this age group
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Every visit
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Sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention
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Women who are sexually active
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At routine exams
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Skin cancer
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Women with pale skin
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At routine exams
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Use of tobacco and the health effects it can cause
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All women in this age group
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Every visit
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The ACS advises all women ages 20 to 39 to have a clinical breast exam (CBE) every 3 years. Breast self-exams are a choice for women age 20 and older. But the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) does not advise CBE.
The USPSTF advises that people ages 15 to 65 years to be screened for HIV. They advise this test for younger or older people at higher risk. The CDC advises that all people ages 13 to 64 get tested for HIV at least 1 time.
Online Medical Reviewer:
Marianne Fraser MSN RN
Online Medical Reviewer:
Raymond Kent Turley BSN MSN RN
Online Medical Reviewer:
Robert Hurd MD
Date Last Reviewed:
6/1/2021
© 2000-2023 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.