Women's Health

Early disease detection during adulthood is intended to identify diseases that may develop as you age. Routine checkups and screening are important to stay in good health.

How often you have the following tests depends on your age, your health, and things that increase your risk for specific diseases. Tests that may be done at your routine checkups include:

• Alcohol abuse (misuse) screening.
• Blood pressure screening.
• Breast cancer screening for women.
• Cervical cancer screening for women.
• Cholesterol screening.
• Colorectal cancer screening.
• Coronary artery disease risk screening.
• Dental checkup.
• Depression screening.
• Diabetes type 2 screening.
• Gestational diabetes screening for women.
• Hearing tests.
• HIV test.
• Prostate cancer screening for men.
• Sexually transmitted infection screening.
• Skin cancer screening.
• Testicular cancer screening for men.
• Thyroid disease screening.
• Tuberculosis screening.
• Vision tests and glaucoma screening.

Monitor your weight, and see your doctor if you suddenly or consistently gain or lose weight. For more information, see the topics Weight Management and Obesity.

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

Sometimes doctors automatically schedule routine tests because they think that's what patients expect. But sometimes research shows that testing may not be useful or worth the risks or costs. For example, experts say that routine heart tests can be a waste of time and money. For more information, see Heart Tests: When Do You Need Them?