Adult Wellness Visits, Screenings, and Immunizations
- Women's Schedules
- Men's Schedules
On This Page
At Group Health, we want to do everything we can to help you live a healthier and happier life.
Your wellness visits give 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 wellness visits or at appointments between those visits.
Also see: Well-Child Visits and Immunizations
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 Schedules
Women 18 to 21
| Wellness Schedule | Screening Schedule |
Immunization Schedule |
|---|---|---|
|
Wellness visit every year
(Fill out a questionnaire) |
First Pap test for sexually active women starting at age 21.
Chlamydia test every year for sexually active women up to age 25.* |
Tetanus-diphtheria every 10 years.**
Flu vaccine every year. |
Women 22 to 49
| Wellness Schedule | Screening Schedule |
Immunization Schedule |
|---|---|---|
|
Wellness visit at least once every 4 years
(Fill out a questionnaire) |
Pap test every 3 years to age 30, then on a 3 or 5 year schedule, depending on risk.
Chlamydia test every year for sexually active women up to age 25.* 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. |
Women 50 to 64
| Wellness Schedule | Screening Schedule |
Immunization Schedule |
|---|---|---|
|
Wellness 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 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). |
Women 65 and older
| Wellness Schedule | Screening Schedule |
Immunization Schedule |
|---|---|---|
|
Wellness visit every year
(Fill out a questionnaire) |
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). |
Men's Schedules
Men 18 to 21
| Wellness Schedule | Screening Schedule |
Immunization Schedule |
|---|---|---|
|
Wellness visit every year
(Fill out a questionnaire) |
No routine screenings recommended for men in this age group. |
Tetanus-diphtheria every 10 years.**
Flu vaccine every year. |
Men 22 to 49
| Wellness Schedule | Screening Schedule |
Immunization Schedule |
|---|---|---|
|
Wellness visit at least once 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.**
Flu vaccine every year. |
Men 50 to 64
| Wellness Schedule | Screening Schedule |
Immunization Schedule |
|---|---|---|
|
Wellness 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. Abdominal aortic aneurysm (aaa) screening: One-time screening for men aged 55-75 who have a family history of aaa (parent, brother, or sister) or 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). |
Men 65 and older
| Wellness Schedule | Screening Schedule |
Immunization Schedule |
|---|---|---|
|
Well-care visit every year
(Fill out a questionnaire) |
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 55-75 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).
Coverage may vary by plan. To check your benefits, refer to your coverage agreement or contact Customer Service.
Clinical review by Travis Abbott, MD
Group Health
Reviewed 05/14/2013
Group Health
Reviewed 05/14/2013
