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Adult Well-Care Visits, Screenings, and Immunizations


At Group Health, we want to do everything we can to help you live a healthier and happier life.

Your well-care visit gives you and your doctor a chance to talk about topics that can help prevent disease and improve your health. Recommended tests and immunizations can be given during your well-care visits or at appointments between those visits.

Your own preventive-care schedule may differ from the recommendations below, based on your health and personal risk factors. Talk with your doctor about the schedule that's best for you.

Women's Well-Care Schedules

Women aged 18 to 21

Well Visit Schedule Screening
Schedule
Immunization
Schedule
Well-care visit every year
(Fill out a questionnaire)
First Pap test 3 years after becoming sexually active or by age 21, whichever comes first
Chlamydia test every year for sexually active women up to age 25*
Tetanus-diphtheria every 10 years**
Pneumococcal vaccine for high-risk groups
Flu vaccine every year
Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccines for those at high risk of infection

Women aged 22 to 49

Well Visit Schedule Screening
Schedule
Immunization
Schedule
Well-care visit every 4 years
(Fill out a questionnaire)
Pap test every 2-3 years
Chlamydia test every year for sexually active women up to age 25*
Mammogram every 1 or 2 years, based on risk factors or personal choice, beginning at age 40
Cholesterol check every 5 years, beginning at age 45
Blood pressure check every 2 years
Tetanus-diphtheria every 10 years**
Pneumococcal vaccine for high-risk groups
Flu vaccine every year
Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccines for those at high risk of infection

Women aged 50 to 64

Well Visit Schedule Screening
Schedule
Immunization
Schedule
Well-care visit every 2 years
(Fill out a questionnaire)
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 2-3 years
Mammogram every 1-2 years, based on risk factors or personal choice
Osteoporosis screening: women aged 60-64 with risk factors, discuss with your doctor
Tetanus-diphtheria every 10 years**
Pneumococcal vaccine for high-risk groups
Flu vaccine every year
Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccines for those at high risk of infection
Shingles vaccine once in a lifetime for ages 60 and older (not for persons who are immune suppressed)

Women aged 65 and older

Well Visit Schedule Screening
Schedule
Immunization
Schedule
Well-care visit every 2 years
(Ask your doctor's office if you should fill out a health questionnaire)
Cholesterol check every 5 years through age 74; after age 75 discuss with your doctor
Blood pressure check every year
Vision and hearing check every 2 years
Colon cancer screening: talk with your doctor about the best method for you (Women aged 75 and older, discuss your screening with your doctor)
Mammogram every 1-2 years according to risk for breast cancer; women aged 75 and older, discuss screening with your doctor
Osteoporosis screening: recommended for women aged 65 and older
Tetanus-diphtheria every 10 years**
Pneumococcal vaccine one time for ages 65 and older
Flu vaccine every year
Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccines for those at high risk of infection
Shingles vaccine once in a lifetime for ages 60 and older (not for persons who are immune suppressed)

Men's Well-Care Schedules

Men aged 18 to 21

Well Visit Schedule Screening
Schedule
Immunization
Schedule
Well-care visit every year
(Fill out a questionnaire)
No routine screenings recommended for men in this age group. Tetanus-diphtheria every 10 years**
Pneumococcal vaccine for high-risk groups
Flu vaccine every year
Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccines for those at high risk of infection

Men aged 22 to 49

Well Visit Schedule Screening
Schedule
Immunization
Schedule
Well-care visit every 4 years
(Fill out a questionnaire)
Blood pressure check every 2 years
Cholesterol check every 5 years, beginning at age 35
Tetanus-diphtheria every 10 years**
Pneumococcal vaccine for high-risk groups
Flu vaccine every year
Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccines for those at high risk of infection

Men aged 50 to 64

Well Visit Schedule Screening
Schedule
Immunization
Schedule
Well-care visit every 2 years
(Fill out a questionnaire)
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
Tetanus-diphtheria every 10 years**
Pneumococcal vaccine for high-risk groups
Flu vaccine every year
Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccines for those at high risk of infection
Shingles vaccine once in a lifetime for ages 60 and older (not for persons who are immune suppressed)

Men aged 65 and older

Well Visit Schedule Screening
Schedule
Immunization
Schedule
Well-care visit every 2 years
(Ask your doctor's office if you should fill out a health questionnaire)
Cholesterol check every 5 years through age 74; after age 75 discuss with your doctor
Blood pressure check every year
Vision and hearing check every 2 years
Colon cancer screening: talk with your doctor about the best method for you (Men aged 75 and older, discuss screening with your doctor)
Prostate cancer screening: discuss with your doctor
Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening: One-time screening for men aged 65-75 who have ever smoked cigarettes.
Tetanus-diphtheria every 10 years**
Pneumococcal vaccine one time for ages 65 and older
Flu vaccine every year
Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccines for those at high risk of infection
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 having an sexually transmitted disease (STD) also should be screened. 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 should get a tetanus-diphtheria (Td) booster that contains pertussis (Tdap).

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Clinical review by Travis Abbott, MD
Group Health
Reviewed 05/05/2010
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