Women's Health

It's important for your child to continue to have regularly scheduled checkups (usually once a year) through the teen years. At each well-child visit, the doctor will check your child's growth and development and examine your child for possible problems.

Checks at well-child visits include:

• School and behavioral concerns, such as failing classes or dropping out of school, relationship problems with friends and family that affect home or school life, severe mood swings, lack of interest in normal activities and withdrawal from others, being physically aggressive, becoming sexually active, and using tobacco or drugs.
• Blood pressure. It is important for your child to have his or her blood pressure checked every year. After age 21, he or she can follow the adult blood pressure screening guidelines.
• Hearing.
• Height, weight, and body mass index (BMI).
• Scoliosis.
• Vision (children and teens).
• Vision (adults).

Other tests may include:

• Alcohol abuse (misuse) screening.
• Breast cancer screening for females.
• Cervical cancer screening for females.
• Cholesterol screening (children and teens).
• Cholesterol screening (adults).
• Coronary artery disease risk screening.
• Depression screening.
• Diabetes type 2 screening for children and teens.
• Diabetes type 2 screening for adults.
• Gestational diabetes for females.
• Hematocrit test, which checks the amount of red blood cells.
• HIV test.
• Sexually transmitted infection screening.
• Testicular cancer screening for males.
• Tuberculosis screening.

Pregnant women or those trying to become pregnant may be screened for genetic conditions, sexually transmitted infections, and other conditions. For more information, see the topic Pregnancy.

Dental checkups are recommended for all children, teens, and young adults once or twice a year.

For more information on the milestones of teen growth and development, see the topics Growth and Development, Ages 11 to 14 Years and Growth and Development, Ages 15 to 18 Years.