Prevention Guidelines
Children: 0-2 | 2-18
Men: 18-39 | 40-49 | 50-64 | 65+
Women: 18-39 | 40-49 | 50-64 | 65+

Prevention Guidelines for Women 18-39

Here are the screening tests and immunizations that most women age 18-39 need. Although you and your healthcare provider may decide that a different schedule is best for you, this plan can guide your discussion. Click to see prevention plans for men and women in different age groups and learn more about each screening.

Screening

Who needs it

How often

Alcohol misuse

All adults

At routine exams

Anemia

All pregnant women

At first prenatal visit

Bacteriuria

All pregnant women

At 12-16 weeks' gestation

Blood pressure

All adults

At least every two years

Cervical Cancer

All sexually active women, and all women age 21 and older who have a cervix

Pap smear every 1-3 years

Chlamydia

Sexually active women age 24 and under or at increased risk

At routine exams

Depression

All adults

At routine exams

Diabetes, type 2

Adults who are overweight or have other risk factors such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or family history of diabetes

At routine exams

Gonorrhea

All sexually active women age 24 and younger or at increased risk

At routine exams

Hepatitis B virus

All pregnant women

At first prenatal visit

HIV

Anyone at increased risk

At routine checkups

Obesity

All adults

At routine checkups

Preeclampsia

All pregnant women

At routine checkups

Rh (D) Incompatibility

All pregnant women

At routine checkups

Rubella

All pregnant women

At routine checkups

Syphilis

Anyone at increased risk and all pregnant women

At routine exams

Tuberculosis

Anyone at increased risk

Check with your healthcare provider

Counseling

Who needs it

How often

Breast cancer, chemoprevention

Women with high risk

When risk is identified

BRCA mutation testing for breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility

Women with increased risk

When risk is identified

Breastfeeding

All pregnant women

Before delivery 

Diet, behavioral counseling

Adults with hyperlipidemia and other known risk factors for cardiovascular and diet-related chronic disease

When diagnosed

Tobacco use

All users

Every visit

Immunization

Who needs it

How often

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

All females age 11 to age 26 and women who have Pap smear abnormalities

Three doses

Tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Td/Tdap) booster

All adults

Td: Every 10 years.

Tdap: Once after age 18

Chickenpox (varicella)

All adults ages 19 to 49 who lack prior infection of documented vaccinations

Two doses over 8 weeks.

Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine

All adults

Once or twice.

Flu vaccine

People at risk

Yearly.

Hepatitis A vaccine

People at risk

Twice over 12-18 months.

Hepatitis B vaccine

People at risk

Three doses over six months.

Meningococcal

People at risk

One or more times.

Pneumococcal (polysaccharide)

People at risk

One or two times.

Guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

Immunization schedule from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Online Editor: Rademaekers, Ed
Online Medical Reviewer: Oken, Emily MD
Date Last Reviewed: 7/18/2007
Date Last Modified: 7/18/2007