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National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Icon for Get Recommended Screening Tests and Immunizations for Women

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) aims to help you stay healthy. The table below lists the preventive health services (screening tests, medications, health counseling, and vaccines) that VHA recommends.

Screening tests are used to look for health conditions before there are symptoms. These recommendations apply only to adult women of average risk. You are a woman of average risk if you have no personal or family history or symptoms of the conditions listed below. If you are having symptoms of a condition, please talk with your provider. Guidance specific to men can be found on the screening and immunizations for men page.

Preventive Care Recommendation Charts

Supporting Information

Screening Tests for Average Veterans
HEALTH CONDITIONS 18-29years 30-39years 40-49years 50-59years 60-69years 70-79years 80 yearsand older
Breast Cancer Not Recommended(age 18-39) Recommended annually (age 45-54)Recommend biennial (55 and older or have opportunity to continue annually)Have opportunity to begin annual screening (40-44) Recommended forsome women—talk with your provider(age 75 and older)
Cervical Cancer Every 3 yrs.(age 21-29) RecommendedEvery 3 or 5 yrs.,depending on tests chosen (age 30-65) Not Recommended(age 66 and older)
Colon Cancer Not Recommended(age 18-44) Recommended Frequency varies by test chosen(age 45-75) Talk with your provider(age 76-85) NR86+
Depression Recommended every year
Hepatitis B Infection Recommended for some women—talk with your provider (age 18 and older)
Hepatitis C Infection Recommended in adults aged 18-79 years, and in all pregnant women, during each pregnancy
High Blood Pressure Recommended every year (age 18 and older)
HIV Infection Recommended once (age 18 and older); in all pregnant Veterans; annually in Veterans with ongoing risk factors
Lung Cancer Not Recommended (age 18-49) Recommended for some women - talk with your provider (age 50-80) NR(age 81+)
Osteoporosis Recommended for some women—talk with your provider(age 18-64) Recommended once (age 65 and older)
Sexually Transmitted Infections Recommendtesting for gonorrhea andchlamydia (age 18–24) Recommended for some women, talk with your provider about testing for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis (age 25 and older)
Talk with yourprovider aboutsyphilis testing Recommended for all pregnant Veterans, early screening for syphilis infection, regardless of age.
Medications
HEALTH CONDITIONS 18-29years 30-39years 40-49years 50-59years 60-69years 70-79years 80 yearsand older
Folic Acid for Pregnancy Planning Recommended. Daily folic acid supplement for anywoman who may become pregnant (age 18-55) Not recommended after child-bearingage (age 55 and older)
Aspirin to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease Not Recommended(age 18-39) Talk with your provider (age 40-59) Not Recommended(age 60 and older)
PrEP to Prevent HIV Infection Talk with your provider (age 19 and older)
Statin to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease Not recommended (age 19-40) Recommended for some women - talk with your provider (age 40 and older)
Health Counseling
HEALTH CONDITIONS 18-29years 30-39years 40-49years 50-59years 60-69years 70-79years 80 yearsand older
Tobacco Use Recommended every visit (if using tobacco) (age 18 and older)
Alcohol Use Talk with your provider about healthy alcohol use (age 18 and older)
Healthy Diet and**Physical Activity** Talk with your provider about a healthy diet and physical activity (age 18 and older)
Overweight and Obesity Recommended every year (age 18 and older)
Vaccines
HEALTH CONDITIONS 18-29years 30-39years 40-49years 50-59years 60-69years 70-79years 80 yearsand older
COVID-19 Recommended for all women - talk with your provider to make sure you stay up-to-date (https://www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/)
Hepatitis A Recommended for some women—talk with your provider (age 19 and older)
Hepatitis B Recommended for all women who have not already had Hepatitis B vaccine(age 19-59) Recommended for some women—talk with your provider (age 60 and older)
Herpes Zoster (Shingles)RZV vaccine Recommended for some women - talk to your provider(age 19 and older) Recommended 2 doses (age 50 and older), with second dose 2-6 months after first dose
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)HPV vaccine 2–3 doses(age19–26)if seriesnotcompleted Talk with your provider(age 27–45) Not recommended(age 46 and older)
Influenza (Flu)Injectable, Inhaled Recommended every year (age 19 and older)
Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Recommended for some women—talk with your provider (age 19 and older)
Meningococcal Disease Recommended for some women—talk with your provider (age 19 and older)
Pneumococcal DiseasePCV15, PCV20,PPSV23 vaccine Recommended for some women — talk with your provider (age 19-64) Recommended — talk to your provider to make sure you are up-to-date (age 65 and older)
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)RSV vaccine during pregnancyRSV Vaccine Pregnant Veterans are recommended to receive a one-time (single lifetime) RSV Abrysvo® vaccine between 32-36 weeks gestation during RSV season “One time” (single lifetime) dose recommended for some women – talk with your provider (age 60–74) “One time” (single lifetime) dose recommended for women age 75 and older
Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis) Recommended at least 1 dose. Get additional dose with every pregnancy (Or for wound management if > 5 years have passed since last tetanus toxoid-containing booster vaccine).
Td (Tetanus and Diphtheria) Recommended. Booster every 10 years (age 19 and older) (Either Tdap or Td may be used) (Or for wound management if > 5 years have passed since last tetanus toxoid-containing booster vaccine).
Varicella (Chickenpox) Recommended for some women - talk with your provider (2 doses if born 1980 or later)