Health checks at different ages

Health checks for women up to the age of 40

• Have a blood pressure test every two years.
  
• Check your body mass index (BMI) and waist measurement every two years.
• Have a cervical screening test every five years, or as advised by your doctor.
• Regularly check the look and feel of your breasts.
• Have a sexual health check if you are sexually active.
• Ask your doctor which vaccinations or boosters you need.

Health checks for women aged 41 to 60

• Have a blood pressure test every two years, then every year after you turn 50.
• Check your body mass index (BMI) and waist measurement every two years, then every year after you turn 50.
• Have a diabetes risk check every three years, and blood sugar test every year if you are at risk.
• Have a cholesterol test at least every five years.
• Have a cervical screening test every five years, or as advised by your doctor.
• Regularly check the look and feel of your breasts.
• Have a mammogram every two years.
• Have a sexual health check if you are sexually active.
• Have a bowel cancer screen every two years from the age of 50.
• Have a urine test to assess kidney health every year after the age of 50.
• Have a bone density scan if recommended by your doctor.
• Ask your doctor which vaccinations or boosters you need.

Health checks for women aged 60 and older

• Have a blood pressure test every year.
• Check your body mass index (BMI) and waist measurement every year.
• Have a diabetes risk check every three years, and blood sugar test every year if you are at risk.
• Have a cholesterol test at least every five years.
• Have a cervical screening test every five years, or as advised by your doctor, until the age of 74.
• Regularly check the look and feel of your breasts.
• Have a mammogram every two years.
• Have a sexual health check if you are sexually active.
• Have a bowel cancer screen every two years.
• Have a urine test to assess kidney health every year.
• Have a bone density scan every five years from the age of 70.

Vaccinations

• Ask your doctor which vaccinations or boosters you need.
• If you are over 65, talk to your doctor about having a vaccine to protect you from shingles (a viral infection that causes a painful, blistering rash).
• If you are over 70, talk to your doctor about having a pneumonia vaccine.