Prevention Guidelines for Women 40-49 Years Old Cedars-Sinai Skip to content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Menu Close Call 1-800-CEDARS-1 toggle search form Close Share Email Print Prevention Guidelines for Women 40–49 A screening test is done to find possible health problems or diseases in people who don't have any symptoms. The goal is to find a disease early so lifestyle changes can be made and you can be watched more closely to lower the risk of disease, or to find it early enough to treat it most effectively. Screening tests are not diagnostic. But they are used to find out if more testing is needed. Health counseling is vital, too. This plan does not include recommendations for pregnancy. You and your healthcare provider may decide that a different schedule is best for you. But this plan can guide your discussion. Screening Who needs it How often Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes All adults starting at age 45 and adults with no symptoms at any age who are overweight or obese and have 1 or more additional risk factors for diabetes At least every 3 years Alcohol misuse All adults At routine exams Blood pressure All adults Yearly checkup if your blood pressure is normal. Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg.1 If your blood pressure reading is higher than normal, follow the advice of your healthcare provider. Breast cancer All women2 Screening with a mammogram every year is an option starting at age 40. Talk to your healthcare provider regarding your recommended frequency depending on your risk factors. Cervical cancer All women, except those who had a hysterectomy (with removal of the cervix) for reasons not related to cervical cancer and no history of cervical cancer or serious precancer Women between the ages of 30 and 65 should have a Pap test plus an HPV test (called "co-testing") every 5 years. This is the preferred approach. But it is also acceptable to continue to have Pap tests alone every 3 years. Colorectal cancer Women of average risk ages 45 years and older Several tests are available and used at different times. Tests include: Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, or CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years, or Colonoscopy every 10 years, or Yearly fecal occult blood test, or Yearly fecal immunochemical test every year, or Stool DNA test, every 3 years You will need a follow-up colonoscopy if you choose any test other than a colonoscopy and you have an abnormal result. Screening recommendations vary among expert groups. Talk with your doctor about which test is best for you. Some people should be screened using a different schedule because of their personal or family history. Talk with your doctor about your health history and what colorectal cancer screening schedule is best for you. Chlamydia Women at a higher risk for infection At routine exams if at risk Depression All adults in clinical practices that have staff and systems in place to assure accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and follow-up At routine exams Gonorrhea Sexually active women at a higher risk for infection At routine exams if at risk Hepatitis C Adults at a higher risk; 1 time for those born between 1945 and 1965 At routine exams if at risk HIV All women At routine exams Lipid disorders All women age 45 and older at a higher risk for coronary artery disease For women ages 19 to 44, screening should be based on risk factors; talk with your healthcare provider At least every 5 years Obesity All adults At routine checkups Syphilis Women at a higher risk for infection At routine exams if at risk Tuberculosis Adults at a higher risk for infection Check with your healthcare provider. Vision All adults3 Baseline comprehensive exam at age 40; if you have a chronic disease, check with your healthcare provider for exam frequency. Counseling Who needs it How often Breast cancer, chemoprevention Women at high risk When risk is identified BRCA mutation testing for breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility Women with a higher risk When risk is identified Diet and exercise Adults who are overweight or obese When diagnosed and at routine exams Domestic violence Women of child-bearing age and older women with a higher risk At routine exams Sexually transmitted disease prevention Adults at a higher risk for infection At routine exams Tobacco use and tobacco-related disease All adults Every exam Immunization Who needs it How often Tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Td/Tdap) booster All adults Td: every 10 years Tdap: substitute a one-time dose of Tdap for a Td booster after age 18, then boost with Td every 10 years Chickenpox (varicella) All adults in this age group who have no record of previous infection or vaccinations 2 doses; the second dose should be given at least 4 weeks after the first dose Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) All adults in this age group who have no record of previous infection or vaccinations 1 or 2 doses Flu vaccine (seasonal) All adults Yearly, when the vaccine becomes available in the community Hepatitis A vaccine People at risk4 2 doses given 6 months apart Hepatitis B vaccine People at risk5 3 doses; the second dose should be given 1 month after the first dose; the third dose should be given at least 2 months after the second dose (and at least 4 months after the first dose). Haemophilus influenzae type B (HIB) People at risk 1 to 3 doses Meningococcal People at risk** 1 or 2 doses Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) People at risk6 1 or 2 doses 1. American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines 2. American Cancer Society 3. Recommendation from the American Academy of Ophthalmology 4. For complete list, see the CDC website 5. Exceptions may exist. Please talk with your healthcare provider. Other guidelines from the USPSTF Immunization schedule from the CDC Expert Care for Life Starts Here Adult Primary Care Pediatric Primary Care Urgent Care Need Help 1-800-CEDARS-1 (1-800-233-2771) Schedule a Callback Looking for a Physician Choose a doctor and schedule an appointment. Find a Doctor Share Email Print Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility