to main content

Women's Health Guidelines

These are general recommendations compiled by the Kelsey Research Foundation. Your care may vary depending on personal risk factors. Please consult your physician for specific medical advice.

Assessment Ages 18-39 Ages 40-49 Ages 50-64 Ages 65-74 Ages 75+
Preventive Visit Every 3 years Yearly, unless your physician recommends every 2 years Yearly Yearly Yearly
Blood Pressure Yearly Yearly Yearly Yearly Yearly
 Weight Every 1-3 years Every 1-3 years Every 1-3 years Yearly Yearly
Vision, Hearing Discuss with your physician Discuss with your physician Discuss with your physician Discuss with your physician Discuss with your physician
Stool sample for blood     Yearly (not needed if you have had a colonoscopy within the last 10 years) Yearly (not needed if you have had a colonoscopy within the last 10 years) Yearly (not needed if you have had a colonoscopy within the last 10 years)
Colon exam   Based on family history Colonoscopy every 10 years if first exam is negative Colonoscopy every 10 years if first exam is negative Colonoscopy every 10 years if first exam is negative
Cholesterol Screening Every 5 years Every 5 years Every 5 years Every 5 years Every 5 years
Blood sugar screening Overweight patients with at least one other risk factor for pre-diabetes such as family history of diabetes Patients 45 and older who are overweight Discuss with physician; Offered yearly Discuss with physician; Offered yearly Discuss with physician; Offered yearly
Mammogram Based on family history, mammograms may need to begin age 40; discuss with your physician Yearly beginning at age 45 unless otherwise directed due to high-risk factors Yearly up to age 54; age 55 and older should be screened every two years unless otherwise directed Every two years unless otherwise directed Screening for cancer after age 75 should be based on individual cancer risk and projected life expectancy. Discuss with your physician
Pap Test Begin at age 21 and screen every 3 years Ages 30-64: After 3 or more consecutive normal paps or negative HPV, continue every 5 years Ages 30-64: After 3 or more consecutive normal paps or negative HPV, continue every 5 years
Ages 30-64: After 3 or more consecutive normal paps or negative HPV, continue every 5 years Ages 65+: Discuss with your physician
Pelvic Exam Yearly May be done annually at the discretion of the physician May be done annually at the discretion of the physician May be done annually at the discretion of the physician May be done annually at the discretion of the physician
Clinical Breast Exam Every 1-3 years Yearly Yearly Yearly Yearly
Breast Self Exam There are benefits and limitations to breast self-exam. Discuss with your physician There are benefits and limitations to breast self-exam. Discuss with your physician There are benefits and limitations to breast self-exam. Discuss with your physician There are benefits and limitations to breast self-exam. Discuss with your physician There are benefits and limitations to breast self-exam. Discuss with your physician
Bone Mineral Density       All females 65 and older All females 65 and older
HIV screening One-time screening between ages of 13 and 64; repeated One-time screening between ages of 13 and 64; repeated One-time screening between ages of 13 and 64; repeated

We make scheduling easy for you

You can schedule appointments through our secure patient portal, MyKelseyOnline, or call our 24/7 Contact Center at 713-442-0427. Virtual Visit options are also available to all new and current patients.