Screening for young adult women
Here are the screening tests and immunizations that most young adult women need. This plan doesn't include recommendations for pregnancy. Your provider may recommend a different schedule, but this plan can guide your discussion.
Cancer screenings
Who: Fair-skinned adults through age 24
When: At routine exams
Who: Women ages 21 and older
When: Women between ages 21 and 29 should have a Pap test every 3 years; women between the ages 30 and 65 should have a Pap test plus an HPV test every 5 years.
Other screenings
Who: All adults
When: At routine exams
Who: All women in this age group
When: At routine exams
Who: Adults with no symptoms who are overweight or obese and have one or more additional risk factors for diabetes
When: At least every three years (annual testing if blood sugar has begun to rise)
Who: Anyone at increased risk for infection
When: At routine exams
Who: All women
When: At routine exams
Who: All adults
When: At routine exams
Who: Anyone at increased risk for infection
When: Check with your healthcare provider
Who: Women in this age group
When: Every 5 to 10 years if not risk factors for eye disease
Note: Recommendation from American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Counseling
Who: Women with increased risk
When: When risk is identified
Who: Women who are overweight or obese
When: When diagnosed and at routine exams
Who: Women at the age in which they are able to have children
When: At routine exams
Who: Fair-skinned adults through age 24
When: At routine exams
Who: All adults
When: Every exam
Vaccinations
Note: Those who are 18 or older, and not up to date on their childhood immunizations, should receive all appropriate catch-up vaccines recommended by the CDC.
Who: All women in this age group up to age 26
What and when: Three doses. The second dose should be given one to two months after the first dose, and the third dose should be given 6 months after the first dose
Who: All adults
When: Td: every 10 years.
Tdap: substitute a one-time dose of Tdap for a Td booster after age 18, then boost with Td every 10 years
Who: All adults in this age group who have no record of previous infection or vaccinations
What and when: Two doses; the second dose should be given four to eight weeks after the first dose
Who: All adults in this age group who have no record of previous infection or vaccinations
What: One or two doses
Who: All adults
When: Yearly, when the vaccine becomes available in the community
Who: Women at increased risk for infection; talk with your healthcare provider
What: One to three doses
Who: People at risk; talk to your healthcare provider
What and when: Two doses given at least 6 months apart
Note: For complete list, see the CDC website.
Who: People at risk; talk to your healthcare provider
What and when: Three doses; second dose should be given one month after the first dose; the third dose should be given at least two months after the second dose (and at least four months after the first dose)
Who: People at risk; talk to your healthcare provider
What: One or more doses
Who: People at risk; talk to your healthcare provider
What and when: PCV13: One dose ages 19 to 65 (protects against 13 types of pneumococcal bacteria)
What and when: PPSV23: One to Two doses through age 64, or one dose at 65 or older (protects against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria)