Article originally published on February 15, 2021. Updated January 8, 2024.

Health Screenings at Every Age

No matter your age, routine screenings are an important part of monitoring and managing your health. Without these regular check-ups, potentially dangerous conditions – including diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers – can develop and worsen without our knowing, negatively impacting health and wellness.

Review the recommended screenings below and commit to making routine wellness exams a priority. If anything is amiss, you and your healthcare team can identify health concerns or disease processes in the early stages, addressing them before they worsen and improving outcomes. If everything comes back normal, you can find peace of mind in knowing you are living a physically healthy life.

Our team remains available and prepared to meet all of your healthcare needs – including wellness exams, screenings and diagnostics.

In your 20s:

Physical exam (every 1-3 years to age 49)
Blood pressure
Cholesterol test
Annual clinical breast exam
HIV test (annually if sexually active and at an increased risk)
Cervical cancer/Pap test with HPV screening (every 3 years ages 21-29 or when a female becomes sexually active)
Glaucoma test (at least once a year)
Skin cancer test (annually)
Testicular cancer (annually)
Sexually transmitted infections (if at risk)

In your 30s:

Physical exam (every 1-3 years to age 49)
Blood pressure
Cholesterol test
Cervical cancer/Pap test (every 5 years ages 30-65, with HPV test)
Annual clinical breast exam
Glaucoma test (at least once a year)
Skin cancer test (annually)
Testicular cancer (annually)
Sexually transmitted infections (if at risk)

In your 40s:

Physical exam (every 1-3 years to age 49)
Blood pressure
Cholesterol test
Screening Mammogram (every year starting at age 40)
Cervical cancer/Pap test (every 5 years ages 30-65, with HPV test)
Annual breast exam
Colorectal cancer/colonoscopy for both men and women (every 10 years starting at age 45)
Glaucoma test (at least once a year)
HIV test (annually if sexually active and at an increased risk)
Skin cancer test (annually)
Diabetes (fasting sugar every 3 years starting at age 45)
Testicular cancer (annually)
Sexually transmitted infections (if at risk)

In your 50s:

Physical exam (every year)
Blood pressure
Cholesterol test
Mammogram (every year starting at age 40)
Cervical cancer/Pap test (every 5 years to age 65, with HPV test)
Annual clinical breast exam
Colorectal cancer/colonoscopy for both men and women
Glaucoma test (at least once a year)
Skin cancer test
Diabetes (fasting sugar every 3 years)
Prostate cancer (annually)
Sexually transmitted infections (if at risk)
Lung cancer screening (at least a 30-pack year smoking history; number 1 cause of cancer-related deaths)

In your 60s and beyond:

Physical exam (every year)
Blood pressure
Cholesterol test
Mammogram (every year starting at age 40)
Cervical cancer/Pap test (every 5 years to age 65, with HPV test)
Annual clinical breast exam
Colorectal cancer/colonoscopy (every 10 years to age 75, not recommended after age 85; men: every 10 years starting at age 50)
Glaucoma test (at least once a year)
Skin cancer test
Bone density/osteoporosis (every 2 years starting at age 65)
Diabetes (fasting sugar every 3 years)
Prostate cancer (annually)
Sexually transmitted infections (if at risk)

Source: U.S. Preventative Services Task Force

Recommended screenings may vary based on your family history, personal health history and a variety of other factors. Talk to your primary care provider about what screenings and exam intervals are right for you – our compassionate providers are here to make and keep you well.

If you delayed wellness exams or recommend screenings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, make an appointment today. If you have concerns about in-office visits, speak to your provider. Your healthcare team may be able to meet your needs over the phone using telemedicine.

If you currently do not have a primary care provider, Fairfield Healthcare Professionals offers expert primary care in several convenient locations. Find an office and provider near you.

Click here to learn more about living well.

Primary Care Offices

When you choose Fairfield Healthcare Professionals as your care provider, you are now receiving care from not only one provider, but also a network of expert medical professionals who collaborate together to provide patients and their families with excellence in healthcare.

Our primary care and specialty services can be found across Fairfield and surrounding counties.

Healthy Habits: Screenings at Every Age

Health Screenings at Every Age

In your 20s:

In your 30s:

In your 40s:

In your 50s:

In your 60s and beyond:

Click here to learn more about living well.

Primary Care Offices

FHP Family Medicine of Amanda

FHP Family Medicine of Carroll

FHP Internal Medicine

FHP Internal Medicine Residency Clinic

FHP Family Medicine of Millersport

Fairfield Medical Center Primary Care Logan Rural Health Care

Fairfield Medical Center Primary Care New Lexington Rural Health Care