What is recommended for women's preventive care?
Getting preventive care on schedule helps women stay healthy by finding diseases early when treatment is easier and more successful. This includes recommended screenings for breast cancer, cervical cancer and Chlamydia. There are national standards for quality care that tell which groups of women should be getting certain types of preventive care tests and how often these tests should be done. Women should talk to their doctor about which tests they should be receiving.
Condition: Breast Cancer
Occurs when there are tumors, or groups of cells clumped together, in breast tissue.
Preventive Test:
Mammogram: An x-ray picture of the inside of the breast that can find signs of cancer.
Recommended For:
All women ages 50-74 need a mammogram every other year. Some women at higher risk for breast cancer may need to start an earlier age (40 or even earlier) and may also need mammograms or other tests more often.
Condition: Cervical Cancer
A slow-growing cancer that is usually caused by HPV (human papillomavirus), a sexually transmitted infection.
Preventive Test:
Pap smear: Looks for changes in the cells of the cervix to find cancer or cells that could turn into cancer.
Recommended For:
All women ages 21-64 should get a Pap test at least once every 3 years. Women younger than 30 who have a higher risk of cervical cancer and those who have had an abnormal Pap test may need to get a Pap test every year.
Condition: Chlamydia
A sexually-transmitted bacterial infection that usually has mild or no symptoms. If this infection is found, it can be cured with antibiotics. If it is not found and treated, Chlamydia can cause permanent damage in the body that can lead to infertility.
Preventive Test:
Chlamydia test: Uses a sample of body fluid or urine to see whether Chlamydia bacteria are present and causing an infection.
Recommended For:
Sexually active women younger than 25, and older women with risk factors, should be screened annually.