Essential Women’s Health Screenings: What You Need and When

Complete Healthcare Team

The screenings that matter most are the ones for conditions you can’t feel yet. Breast cancer, cervical cancer, and colon cancer often cause no symptoms in their earliest, most treatable stages, which is exactly why screening exists: to find them before you’d ever notice something is wrong. Two of these guidelines changed recently in ways many people haven’t caught up with, so if you think you know when to start, it’s worth a second look.

Staying current on a handful of key screenings is one of the most effective things you can do for your long-term health. The women’s care team at Complete Healthcare helps patients keep track of what they’re due for, and this guide walks through the essential screenings for women, when to start each one, and how often to repeat them. For a broader look at screenings for everyone, our general health screenings hub covers the full picture.

Mammogram Screening for Breast Cancer

A mammogram is a low-dose X-ray of the breast that can detect cancer years before it would be felt as a lump. It’s the cornerstone of breast cancer screening, and the guidance on when to begin recently shifted.

In 2024, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force updated its recommendation so that women at average risk should begin mammogram screening at 40, continuing every other year through age 74. This is a change from the previous guidance, which started at 50. The update reflects growing evidence that screening earlier saves more lives. Some organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, recommend annual rather than every-other-year mammograms, so the right frequency for you is worth discussing with your provider.

If you have a family history of breast cancer, a genetic risk, or other risk factors, your provider may recommend starting earlier or screening more often. In our practice, we tailor this to your personal history rather than applying a single rule to everyone.

Colon Cancer Screening

Colon cancer screening is the essential one people most often overlook, and its guidance also changed recently. Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable cancers precisely because screening can find and remove precancerous polyps before they ever turn into cancer.

Because colorectal cancer has been rising in younger adults, the USPSTF lowered the recommended starting age. Average-risk adults should now begin colon cancer screening at 45, rather than the previously recommended 50, and continue through 75. There are several ways to screen, which is good news if the idea has kept you from it:

• Colonoscopy, typically every 10 years, which examines the entire colon and can remove polyps during the same procedure
• Stool-based tests, such as an annual FIT (fecal immunochemical test) or a stool DNA test every one to three years, done at home
• Other visual exams, like CT colonography, in certain situations

The best test is the one you’ll actually do. If a colonoscopy feels like a barrier, an at-home stool test is a legitimate starting point worth asking about. People with a family history or other risk factors may need to start earlier or screen more often.

Cervical Cancer Screening

Cervical cancer screening is one of the great success stories in preventive medicine, since it can catch cell changes long before they become cancer. It typically involves a Pap test, an HPV test, or both together.

Current guidelines recommend screening from age 21 to 65. For most people, that means a Pap test every three years from 21 to 29, and from 30 to 65, either a Pap every three years, an HPV test every five years, or both together every five years. Our guide on Pap smears explains how the test works and what results mean. Screening can often stop after 65 with a history of adequate normal results.

Other Screenings Worth Keeping on Your Radar

Beyond the three big cancer screenings, several others are part of well-rounded care for women. These aren’t specific to women, but they matter just as much:

• Blood pressure, checked regularly, since high blood pressure is common, silent, and a major risk factor for heart disease
• Cholesterol, through a simple blood test, on a schedule based on your age and risk
• Blood sugar, to screen for diabetes and prediabetes, especially with risk factors like family history or weight-related concerns
• Bone density, generally starting at 65, or earlier with risk factors, to check for osteoporosis
• Mental health, which deserves the same attention as physical screenings and can be part of a routine visit

The specific timing for these depends on your age, history, and risk factors, which is part of why a regular relationship with a provider matters. Our annual wellness visit guide covers how these fit together over time.

Common Questions About Women’s Health Screenings

At what age should women start getting mammograms?

Under the updated 2024 USPSTF guidance, women at average risk should start at 40 and screen every other year through 74. That’s a change from the older recommendation to start at 50, so if you were told years ago to wait until 50, the guidance has since shifted earlier. If you have a family history or other risk factors, your provider may recommend starting sooner. It’s worth a conversation about what fits your personal risk.

Why did colon cancer screening change to age 45?

The starting age was lowered from 50 to 45 because colorectal cancer has been increasing among younger adults, and modeling showed that starting earlier catches more cancers when they’re highly treatable. This applies to adults at average risk. If you have a family history of colorectal cancer or certain other conditions, screening may be recommended even earlier, so let your provider know your family history.

Are screenings covered by insurance?

Many preventive screenings are covered at no additional cost under most insurance plans, since prevention saves money over time, and mammograms in particular are generally covered fully starting at 40 for those who want them. That said, coverage can vary by plan and by the specific test, so it’s worth checking. Our staff can help you verify your benefits before your visit so cost isn’t a surprise or a barrier.

Who Should Pay Extra Attention to the Schedule

Some situations call for closer attention to screening timing:

• People with a family history of breast, colon, cervical, or other cancers, who may need to start earlier or screen more often
• People who’ve fallen behind or have never been screened, since most cancers found late occur in people who weren’t screened on schedule
• People with risk factors like a genetic predisposition, prior abnormal results, or certain health conditions
• People going through a life transition, such as approaching an age where a new screening begins

If any of these apply, catching up on screenings is one of the highest-value steps you can take.

Get on Track With Your Screenings

Whether you’re due for a mammogram, wondering about colon cancer screening, or just want to make sure you’re current on everything, a provider can help you build a schedule that fits your age and history. Complete Healthcare offers women’s care with same-day appointments available across our 11 locations in Central Ohio, including Columbus, Pickerington, Newark, Lancaster, Marion, Marysville, and Delaware. Call us at 614-882-4343 or schedule online to get started.