Essential Screenings for Women
Preventive care is one of the best ways for women to stay engaged with their health. Even when you feel well, routine checkups can help you stay up to date on recommended screenings based on your age and personal risk factors.
Regular wellness visits can help you:
- Stay current on recommended screenings and vaccinations
- Build a relationship with your health care provider
- Review your personal and family health history
- Monitor changes in your health over time
Because everyone is unique and individual health needs may change over time, screening recommendations vary. Use the guides below as a starting point, then talk with your provider about what screenings may be right for you.
- Women ages 18-39: Early adulthood is an important time to build preventive care habits. Recommended care may include blood pressure checks, cervical cancer screenings, cholesterol testing based on risk factors, and routine vaccinations.
- Women ages 40-64: As you get older, your risk for certain chronic conditions may increase. In addition to routine preventive care, screenings for breast cancer, colorectal cancer, diabetes, and heart disease become more important.
- Women ages 65 and older: Preventive care continues to support healthy aging. Depending on your health history, recommended screenings may include osteoporosis testing, colorectal cancer screenings, vision and hearing evaluations, and monitoring for conditions that become more common with age.
As a reminder, your university benefits are always available to help you take the next step in caring for your health:
- Get no-cost preventive care. All three UMR medical plans cover in-network preventive services, including annual physicals, immunizations, mammograms, Pap tests, and colorectal cancer screenings. Preventive care can help identify health concerns early, when treatment is often most effective and less costly.
- Support healthy habits with the MedEmpower Fuel app. Use the app to build healthy habits with personalized meal plans, healthy eating recommendations, activity and wellness tracking, health coaching, and women’s health support for topics such as weight management, hormonal changes, and bone health.
- Schedule routine vision care. Preventive care is not limited to your annual physical exam. Regular eye exams can help detect changes in vision and catch certain health concerns early. Your vision benefits provide access to routine exams at little to no cost depending on your provider, as well as other discounted vision care services.
- Save on everyday wellness expenses. Access Perks offers discounts on groceries, dining, travel, fitness-related purchases, and more through a nationwide network of participating merchants. These savings can make it easier to support healthy routines at home and on the go.
Taking care of your health starts with one appointment. Schedule your next preventive care visit, talk with your provider about recommended screenings, and explore the wellness resources available through your university benefits. For more information, visit uasys.edu/benefits.