When should women start their health screenings?

Keeping up with health screenings is essential to detect potential medical concerns before they become serious or more expensive to treat. From blood pressure readings to mammograms and pap smears, here is a recommended guide on when women should start scheduling screenings and practice preventive health measures.

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When to start	Test	Frequency	Reason
18	Blood pressure test	Every 2 years at least (more often if you have a medical condition)	The ideal blood pressure for women is less than 120/80 mmHg. Hypertension or hypotension can lead to cardiovascular diseases, strokes and kidney failure.
18	Skin exam	Monthly	Women should regularly inspect their skin and take note of unusual moles. Inform a doctor or dermatologist if there are any, as it might be an early sign of skin cancer.
20	Clinical breast exam	Every 3 years for women in 20s and 30s. Every year for women 40 and over.	This detects potential development of breast cancer at an early stage.
21	Pelvic exam	Every year	This identifies possible cervical cancer.
21	Pap smear	Every 3-5 years	This identifies possible cervical cancer.
30	HPV test	Every 3-5 years	A joint HPV test and Pap smear has been proven to be more effective at detecting HPV infections and cervical cancer, compared to just doing the Pap test alone.
35	Cholesterol screening	Every 5 years (earlier for women with higher risk factors)	High cholesterol puts you at higher risk of heart attack and stroke.
40	Mammogram	Every 1–2 years	This identifies early signs of breast cancer.
45	Blood glucose test	Every 3 years	High blood glucose levels indicate higher risk of diabetes.
50	Colonoscopy	Every 10 years	These colon screenings check for possible colorectal cancer.
50	Flexible sigmoidoscopy	Every 5 years	These colon screenings check for possible colorectal cancer.
50	Fecal occult blood test	Every year	These colon screenings check for possible colorectal cancer.
50	Rectal exam	Every 5 – 10 years	This detects colon cancer at an early stage.
65	Bone mineral density test	At least once	This identifies osteoporosis and bone loss. Women with higher risk factors, such as fractures in the past or smaller frame, should start earlier.
When sexually active	Chlamydia test	Every year	This prevents the spread of chlamydia.
When sexually active	Sexually transmitted disease (STD) screening	Before starting sexual activity	For women and their partners, getting checked early prevents the spread of STDs including HIV.

Source: Womenshealth.gov, Everydayhealth.com and other related websites

This schedule is a general guideline on several important health screenings and when women should start them. However, some may need to start earlier depending on their risk factors. Discuss with a healthcare professional to determine the right routine.

Preventive health screening is a way of ensuring you can find health problems and begin treatment before they become serious. Another way to plan ahead is to get a comprehensive medical plan that helps you cope with financial burdens and future uncertainties should anything happen.

Allianz Malaysia has various medical plans including a dedicated Lady Guard Plan for female-related cancer and illnesses. Find out more and get the right medical protection for your needs!