Adult Wellness Visits, Screenings, and Immunizations
You can take charge of your health by staying current on wellness visits, screenings, and immunizations. Your family physician will help you stay on track by sending reminders about your upcoming screenings. Our goal is to help you live a healthier and happier life through preventive care.
During your wellness visit, you and your doctor will discuss how to improve your health and prevent disease. You may receive recommended tests or immunizations during your visit, or you may need to schedule separate appointments.
Depending on your health and personal risk factors, your preventive care schedule may differ from the standard recommendations. Talk with your doctor about a schedule that's best for you. If you have particular risk factors like a chronic disease, obesity, or a family history of a disease, additional screenings may be recommended.
(This page was adapted from the Group Health website.)
Recommended Schedule for Women 18 to 21
A Wellness Visit every year
First Pap test for sexually active women starting at age 21.
Chlamydia test every year for sexually active women through age 24.
Tetanus-diphtheria every 10 years.**
Flu vaccine every year.
Recommended Schedule for Women 22 to 49
A Wellness Visit at least once every 4 years
Pap test every 3 years through age 29. Starting at age 30, on a 3 or 5 year schedule depending on risk.
Chlamydia test every year for sexually active women through age 24.*
Mammogram: There are risks and benefits in starting breast cancer screening before age 50. Talk with your doctor. Women who wish to begin screening at age 40 can self-refer to a mammogram location.
Cholesterol check every 5 years, beginning at age 45.
Blood pressure check every 2 years.
Tetanus-diphtheria every 10 years.**
Flu vaccine every year.
Recommended Schedule for Women 50 to 64
A Wellness Visit every 2 years
Cholesterol check every 5 years.
Blood pressure check every 2 years.
Colon cancer screening: talk with your doctor about the best method for you.
Pap test every 3 or 5 years, depending on risk.
Mammogram every 1-2 years, based on risk factors for breast cancer.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (aaa) screening: One-time screening for women aged 55-75 who have a family history of aaa (parent, brother, or sister) and smoked 100 cigarettes or more in their lifetime.
Tetanus-diphtheria every 10 years.**
Flu vaccine every year.
Shingles vaccine once in a lifetime for ages 60 and older (not for persons who are immune suppressed).
Recommended Schedule for Women 65 and older
A Wellness Visit every year
Cholesterol check every 5 years through age 74; after age 75 discuss with your doctor.
Blood pressure check every year.
Vision and hearing checks every year.
Colon cancer screening: talk with your doctor about the best method for you. Women aged 75 and older, regular screening isn't generally recommended. If you wish to continue screening, talk with your doctor.
Mammogram every 1-2 years based on risk for breast cancer. Women aged 75 and older, discuss optional screening with your doctor.
Bone density test: recommended for women aged 65 and older.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (aaa) screening: One-time screening for women aged 55-75 who have a family history of aaa (parent, brother, or sister) and smoked 100 cigarettes or more in their lifetime.
Tetanus-diphtheria every 10 years.**
Pneumococcal vaccine one time for ages 65 and older.
Flu vaccine every year.
Shingles vaccine once in a lifetime for ages 60 and older (not for persons who are immune suppressed).
Recommended Schedule for Men 18 to 21
A Wellness Visit every year
No routine screenings recommended for men in this age group.
Tetanus-diphtheria every 10 years.**
Flu vaccine every year.
Recommended Schedule for Men 22 to 49 Wellness Schedule
A Wellness Visit at least once every 4 years
Blood pressure check every 2 years.
Cholesterol check every 5 years, beginning at age 35.
Tetanus-diphtheria every 10 years.**
Flu vaccine every year.
Recommended Schedule for Men 50 to 64
A Wellness Visit every 2 years
Cholesterol check every 5 years.
Blood pressure check every 2 years.
Colon cancer screening: talk with your doctor about the best method for you.
Discuss prostate cancer screening with your doctor.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (aaa) screening: One-time screening for men aged 55-64 who have a family history of aaa (parent, brother, or sister).
Tetanus-diphtheria every 10 years.**
Flu vaccine every year.
Shingles vaccine once in a lifetime for ages 60 and older (not for persons who are immune suppressed).
Recommended Schedule for Men 65 and olde
A Wellness visit every year
Cholesterol check every 5 years through age 74; after age 75 discuss with your doctor.
Blood pressure check every year
Vision and hearing checks every year.
Colon cancer screening: talk with your doctor about the best method for you. Men aged 75 and older, regular screening isn't generally recommended. If you wish to continue screening, talk with your doctor.
Prostate cancer screening: discuss with your doctor.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening (aaa): One-time screening for men aged 65 and older who have a family history of aaa (parent, brother, or sister) or who smoked 100 cigarettes or more in their lifetime.
Tetanus-diphtheria every 10 years.**
Pneumococcal vaccine one time for ages 65 and older.
Flu vaccine every year.
Shingles vaccine once in a lifetime for ages 60 and older (not for persons who are immune suppressed).
*Women aged 25 and older who are at high risk for sexually transmitted infections (SDIs), also called sexually transmitted disease, should consider being tested for chlamydia as well as HIV. Ask your doctor what screening schedule is best for you. If you're pregnant, talk to your doctor about the need for chlamydia testing.
**Once in a lifetime, everyone 11 years of age and older should get a tetanus-diphtheria (Td) booster that contains pertussis (Tdap).
You can take charge of your health by staying current on wellness visits, screenings, and immunizations. Your family physician will help you stay on track by sending reminders about your upcoming screenings. Our goal is to help you live a healthier and happier life through preventive care.
During your wellness visit, you and your doctor will discuss how to improve your health and prevent disease. You may receive recommended tests or immunizations during your visit, or you may need to schedule separate appointments.
Depending on your health and personal risk factors, your preventive care schedule may differ from the standard recommendations. Talk with your doctor about a schedule that's best for you. If you have particular risk factors like a chronic disease, obesity, or a family history of a disease, additional screenings may be recommended.
(This page was adapted from the Group Health website.)
Recommended Schedule for Women 18 to 21
A Wellness Visit every year
First Pap test for sexually active women starting at age 21.
Chlamydia test every year for sexually active women through age 24.
Tetanus-diphtheria every 10 years.**
Flu vaccine every year.
Recommended Schedule for Women 22 to 49
A Wellness Visit at least once every 4 years
Pap test every 3 years through age 29. Starting at age 30, on a 3 or 5 year schedule depending on risk.
Chlamydia test every year for sexually active women through age 24.*
Mammogram: There are risks and benefits in starting breast cancer screening before age 50. Talk with your doctor. Women who wish to begin screening at age 40 can self-refer to a mammogram location.
Cholesterol check every 5 years, beginning at age 45.
Blood pressure check every 2 years.
Tetanus-diphtheria every 10 years.**
Flu vaccine every year.
Recommended Schedule for Women 50 to 64
A Wellness Visit every 2 years
Cholesterol check every 5 years.
Blood pressure check every 2 years.
Colon cancer screening: talk with your doctor about the best method for you.
Pap test every 3 or 5 years, depending on risk.
Mammogram every 1-2 years, based on risk factors for breast cancer.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (aaa) screening: One-time screening for women aged 55-75 who have a family history of aaa (parent, brother, or sister) and smoked 100 cigarettes or more in their lifetime.
Tetanus-diphtheria every 10 years.**
Flu vaccine every year.
Shingles vaccine once in a lifetime for ages 60 and older (not for persons who are immune suppressed).
Recommended Schedule for Women 65 and older
A Wellness Visit every year
Cholesterol check every 5 years through age 74; after age 75 discuss with your doctor.
Blood pressure check every year.
Vision and hearing checks every year.
Colon cancer screening: talk with your doctor about the best method for you. Women aged 75 and older, regular screening isn't generally recommended. If you wish to continue screening, talk with your doctor.
Mammogram every 1-2 years based on risk for breast cancer. Women aged 75 and older, discuss optional screening with your doctor.
Bone density test: recommended for women aged 65 and older.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (aaa) screening: One-time screening for women aged 55-75 who have a family history of aaa (parent, brother, or sister) and smoked 100 cigarettes or more in their lifetime.
Tetanus-diphtheria every 10 years.**
Pneumococcal vaccine one time for ages 65 and older.
Flu vaccine every year.
Shingles vaccine once in a lifetime for ages 60 and older (not for persons who are immune suppressed).
Recommended Schedule for Men 18 to 21
A Wellness Visit every year
No routine screenings recommended for men in this age group.
Tetanus-diphtheria every 10 years.**
Flu vaccine every year.
Recommended Schedule for Men 22 to 49 Wellness Schedule
A Wellness Visit at least once every 4 years
Blood pressure check every 2 years.
Cholesterol check every 5 years, beginning at age 35.
Tetanus-diphtheria every 10 years.**
Flu vaccine every year.
Recommended Schedule for Men 50 to 64
A Wellness Visit every 2 years
Cholesterol check every 5 years.
Blood pressure check every 2 years.
Colon cancer screening: talk with your doctor about the best method for you.
Discuss prostate cancer screening with your doctor.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (aaa) screening: One-time screening for men aged 55-64 who have a family history of aaa (parent, brother, or sister).
Tetanus-diphtheria every 10 years.**
Flu vaccine every year.
Shingles vaccine once in a lifetime for ages 60 and older (not for persons who are immune suppressed).
Recommended Schedule for Men 65 and olde
A Wellness visit every year
Cholesterol check every 5 years through age 74; after age 75 discuss with your doctor.
Blood pressure check every year
Vision and hearing checks every year.
Colon cancer screening: talk with your doctor about the best method for you. Men aged 75 and older, regular screening isn't generally recommended. If you wish to continue screening, talk with your doctor.
Prostate cancer screening: discuss with your doctor.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening (aaa): One-time screening for men aged 65 and older who have a family history of aaa (parent, brother, or sister) or who smoked 100 cigarettes or more in their lifetime.
Tetanus-diphtheria every 10 years.**
Pneumococcal vaccine one time for ages 65 and older.
Flu vaccine every year.
Shingles vaccine once in a lifetime for ages 60 and older (not for persons who are immune suppressed).
*Women aged 25 and older who are at high risk for sexually transmitted infections (SDIs), also called sexually transmitted disease, should consider being tested for chlamydia as well as HIV. Ask your doctor what screening schedule is best for you. If you're pregnant, talk to your doctor about the need for chlamydia testing.
**Once in a lifetime, everyone 11 years of age and older should get a tetanus-diphtheria (Td) booster that contains pertussis (Tdap).