A Guide to Women’s Health Screenings at Each Stage

Published: June 16, 2025
Updated: June 16, 2025
4 mins

It can be easy to want to skip annual doctor’s appointments. Life gets busy, especially for women working demanding jobs, managing family and social responsibilities, or going through major changes. However, getting your annual screenings can help catch health complications before they worsen. 

As you age, a healthcare provider may recommend different health screenings. It’s always important to come to your healthcare provider with any concerns you may have about your health. Whether big or small, it’s important that you feel confident about your health status.

What is Women's Health Screening?

A women’s health screening is a preventative health service performed by a licensed healthcare provider. Overall, health screenings are a normal preventative health practice for everyone. Your healthcare provider may recommend a new health screening to check for any evolutions in your overall health and well-being. Women’s health screenings tend to focus on testing for health concerns that are more prevalent in people assigned female at birth.

Recommended Health Screenings in Your Teens

Shortly before the start of a young girl’s teenage years, a healthcare provider may begin asking about mental health and bodily changes related to puberty. Many girls first get their period in the early teen years or slightly earlier, between the ages of 10 and 12. 

Puberty is a time of many drastic changes for kids. The changes can affect how they behave and respond emotionally. It’s important they feel supported and well-informed about their bodies and what they may experience.

Around the teenage years, a healthcare provider may recommend the following annual health screenings:

• Hearing

• Scoliosis

• Annual physical

• Anxiety 

• Depression

• Eating disorder

In addition to the health screenings mentioned, many healthcare providers recommend that preteens and teens receive meningitis and HPV vaccinations at this age. Older teens may need additional guidance on sexual health and mental health support. A licensed pediatrician can answer any questions they may have and provide them with age-appropriate resources.

Recommended Women’s Health Screenings in Your 20s and 30s

In young adulthood, lifestyle habits can shape your overall health in this stage. For example, you may be more concerned about contraception and safety from STDs during this time.

In addition to an annual well-woman exam, your healthcare provider may recommend the following screenings in your 20s and 30s:

• Cervical cancer screening (every three years)

• Skin cancer screening (every year)

• Chlamydia testing (every year)

• STI testing (every year)

Recommended Women’s Health Screenings in Your 40s and 50s

Around your 40s and 50s is when you may begin to feel your first perimenopause and menopausal symptoms. During menopause, your body experiences more hormonal changes that may alter how well you sleep, energy levels throughout the day, and more. 

A healthcare provider may recommend the following health screenings during this stage:

• Colonoscopy (every 10 years)

• Skin cancer screening (every year)

• Cervical cancer screening (every three to five years)

• Lung cancer screening (based on your healthcare provider’s recommendation)

• A1C testing for diabetes  (based on your healthcare provider’s recommendation)

• Breast cancer screenings like mammograms or breast ultrasounds (every one to two years)

Your healthcare provider may also recommend the shingles vaccine and pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccine at this stage.

Recommended Women’s Health Screenings in Your 60s and Beyond

At this point, most women no longer have a menstrual period. This stage of your health is all about maintaining healthy habits and your overall well-being. Many of the recommended health screenings at this age focus on assessing sleep, memory, and bone density.

A healthcare provider may recommend the following screenings in addition to annual doctor’s visits:

• Colonoscopy (based on your healthcare provider’s recommendation)

• Bone density tests (based on your healthcare provider’s recommendation)

• Memory disorder assessments (based on your healthcare provider’s recommendation)

• Osteoporosis screening (based on your healthcare provider’s recommendation)

Your healthcare provider may also recommend getting the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine and the shingles vaccine if you don’t already have them.

Where Can I Learn More About Women’s Health?

Through every stage of your life, it’s important to make your health a top priority, even if you feel well. Women’s health screenings can help you get ahead of any common women’s health conditions. At LifeMD, licensed healthcare providers can guide you through ways to prevent or treat common health conditions related to women’s health like osteoporosis. 

Start learning more about women’s health and preventative strategies you can incorporate by connecting with LifeMD today.

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