Health Care Maintenance Guidelines

Take a look at the health care maintenance guidelines below to ensure that you are current on your screenings and exams:

• Cervical cancer screening (Pap smear)
  • Begin at age 21 or within three years after first sexual intercourse
  • Annually thereafter
  • High risk human papilloma virus screening recommended in women >30
• Breast self examination - Click here to view the Online Breast Self-Exam on komen.org
  • Begin at age 30
  • Perform every month the week after menses
• Mammography
  • Baseline at age 40
  • Every 1-2 years between age 40 and age 50
  • Annually after age 50
  • If first degree relative such as your Mom or sister had breast cancer, begin screening 10 years before the age of their diagnosis.
• Colorectal cancer screening
  • Begin at age 50
  • Screening options:
    • Colonoscopy every 10 years
    • Double contrast barium enema every 5 years
    • Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years
    • Yearly fecal occult blood test
    • Fecal occult blood test combined with flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years.  Combination preferred over either option alone.
• Cholesterol and lipid screening
  • Begin in 20s
  • Every 5 years thereafter
• Bone density screening
  • Begin when postmenopausal or earlier if woman has risk factors
  • Risk factors include: smoking, Caucasian, family history, low body weight, certain medications