Check With Your Doctor About...
Preventive Care Services
These guidelines are gathered from the sources listed to the right. They are recommendations only and not meant to replace your doctor's judgment.
| Service | Who? | When? |
|---|---|---|
| Breast Cancer Screening | Women age 40 and older | Yearly mammogram (ACS) |
| Cervical Cancer Screening | Women age 21 or 3 years after first intercourse | Every 1-2 years until age 30. Every 2-3 years after age 30, after 3 consecutive normal yearly normal screens. (ACS) |
| Colon Cancer Screening | Men and women 50 and older Colonoscopy Flexible sigmoidoscopy Barium enema CT colonography |
Every 10 years Every 5 years Every 5 years Every 5 years (ACS) |
| Glucose Testing | Men and women age 45 or older if overweight, sooner if risk factors | Discuss with your provider |
| LIpid (Cholesterol) Screening | Adults age 20 or older | Every 5 years (NCEP). |
| Osteoporosis Screening | Postmenopausal women Routine screening for women over 65 or over 60 if clinically increased risk of fractures |
Discuss with your provider (USPSTF) |
| Prostate Cancer Screening | Men over age 50 or men over age 40 who are at high risk | Routine screening is NOT recommended. (ACS) |
ASC = American Cancer Society; NECP = National Cholesterol Education Program; USPSTF = United States Preventive Services Task Force.
Adult Immunizations
Recommendations for adult immunizations are:
| Immunization | Recommendation (CDC and AMA) |
|---|---|
| Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) | Booster every 10 years after initial series. |
| MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) | All patients born after 1956. |
| Hepatitis A | Two doses for high-risk adults* over age 21. |
| Hepatitis B | Three doses for high-risk adults* over age 21. |
| Influenza | Annually for adults over age 50 |
| Pneumococcus | Adults 65 and older age and high risk* adults |
| Varicella (chickenpox) | Adults who have not had chickenpox. |
| Meningococcus | Certain college students |
| Zoster | Single dose to patients age 60 and older. |
| HPV (human papilloma virus) | Women age 26 and younger (three doses). |
* Those at high risk include those engaged in high-risk sexual behavior, those with chronic illnesses (e.g., diabetes, kidney, cardiac), those who work or live where they may come in contact with blood or body fluids, or be exposed to certain diseases (e.g., healthcare workers, nursing home residents).
AMA = American Medical Association; CDC = Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Preventive Care Discussion Topics
As applicable to you, you and your doctor should discuss diet, exercise, smoking/second-hand smoke, drug and alcohol use, sexually transmitted disease, HIV and AIDs, physical and mental abuse, mental health, dental health, vision health, and advance directives/living will.