Health Screenings by Age

Human bodies are complex systems that require a lifetime of care. Regular checkups bring peace of mind and, when necessary, opportunities to address health concerns. In addition to annual wellness checkups, individuals should talk with their doctors to schedule health screenings.

For oral health, people of all ages should visit a dentist one to two times a year. Children should have basic vision and hearing screenings performed as part of their annual medical checkups. Adults ages 20 to 39 should have their vision tested every 10 years. Adults ages 40 to 64 should have their vision checked every two to four years, while adults 65 and up should have their vision tested every one to two years. Adults ages 18 to 49 should have their hearing tested every 10 years, and adults 50 and up should have their hearing tested every three years.

For cholesterol levels, children should be tested once between ages 9 and 11 and once between 17 and 21. Men ages 20 to 44 and women ages 20 to 54 should have their cholesterol tested every four to six years, while men ages 45 to 64 and women ages 55 to 64 should be tested every one to two years. All adults 65 and over should be tested annually.

Hepatitis C tests are not required, but adults ages 18 to 79 should be tested at least once in their lives, and all pregnant women should be tested during their pregnancy. All adults should receive regular sexually transmitted infection (STI) and HIV testing based on their sexual activity and risk factors. Similarly, people under 45 should be tested for diabetes if they have risk factors or are showing signs of diabetes, and adults over 45 should be tested every three years.

Adolescents and adults should receive regular mental health screenings.

As people age, new screenings are necessary to make sure everything is functioning properly. For example, adults 35 and up should have their thyroids tested every five years. Adults 40 and up should also get screenings for hypertension yearly and screenings for stroke every one to two years.

With different biology comes different needs. Some screenings are only necessary for female or male bodies.

Women ages 18 to 20 should have a pap test if they are sexually active. Women ages 21 to 65 should have a pap test every one to three years. Women 18 and over should have a pelvic exam annually. Women 65 and over should have their bone density tested annually.

Men ages 18 to 49 should have digital rectal exams as part of their annual checkups, and men 50 and up should have them every five to 10 years. Similarly, men 18 and up should have a testicular exam as part of their annual checkups. Men ages 65 to 75 who have ever smoked should be screened for an abdominal aortic aneurysm at least once.

Adults 18 and over should get moles checked for skin cancer every three years. Women 25 and over should be tested for cervical cancer every five years via HPV test. For breast cancer screenings, women 40 and up should get a mammogram every one to two years and a clinical breast exam yearly. Women ages 18 to 39 should get a clinical breast exam every three years.

Men age 55 to 69 may speak with their doctors to make an individual decision to receive a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, but regular screening for prostate cancer isn’t recommended. All adults 50 and over should get a colonoscopy every 10 years.

Adults age 50 to 80 with a 20-pack-year smoking history who smoke or have quit within the past 15 years should be tested annually for lung cancer. A “pack-year” is an average of one pack of cigarettes per day for one year.

In addition to the recommended health screenings, there are other ways to keep yourself in good health.

As important as getting screened is, knowing your results and how to use them is just as critical. Make sure you get the results of screenings and talk with your doctor about what the results mean. If more testing is necessary, schedule those appointments as soon as possible.

Screenings are preventive care. Testing is important because it allows doctors to catch illnesses or risk factors before they become bigger problems. With regular screenings, cancer can be caught in its early stages.

People of all ages should receive COVID-19 and flu vaccines as per their doctor’s instructions.

• Hepatitis B
  • Final dose at age 18 months
• Rotavirus
• Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis
  • Final dose at age 4 to 6
• Haemophilus influenza type B
• Pneumococcal conjugate
• Inactivated poliovirus
  • Final dose at age 4 to 6
• Measles, mumps, and rubella
  • Final dose at age 4 to 6
• Varicella
  • Final dose at age 4 to 6
• Hepatitis A
  • Final dose at age 19 to 23 months

• Human papillomavirus
• Tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis
• Meningococcal
  • Final dose at age 16

• Human papillomavirus
  • Depending on the original schedule
• Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis
  • Each pregnancy or for wound management
• Varicella
  • Two doses if born after 1980
• Zoster recombinant
  • Ages 50+
• Hepatitis B
• Meningococcal B
  • Ages 19 to 23

Healthcare can be complicated, but talking with your doctor about screenings can ease the stress. Regular screenings help catch diseases when they can be treated. It’s important to get vaccinated, have regular checkups, and know when to schedule healthcare screenings.

American Cancer Society, The American Cancer Society Guidelines for the Prevention and Early Detection of Cervical Cancer

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule by Age

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Should I Get Screened for Prostate Cancer?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Testing Recommendations for Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Mayo Clinic, Cholesterol Test

MedlinePlus, Health Screening

Screening America, Stroke Screening

Testing.com, Lipid Panel Test

UCLA Health, Preventive Health Screenings, By Age

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, High Blood Pressure in Adults: Screening

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Recommended Health Screenings for Adults by Age and Gender