Overdue Your Annual Physical Exam? A Checklist for Women of Every Age
Key takeaways:
You should see your primary care provider every year for an annual physical exam, starting in your teenage years.
It’s a good idea to have an annual physical exam (or “well-woman” exam) even if you don’t have any medical problems.
At your annual wellness exam, your primary care provider will ask you questions about your health. They’ll also do a physical exam. And, they may recommend vaccinations or screening tests, depending on your age, health, and risk factors.
Table of contents
When you’re dealing with a health problem, it’s natural to reach out for help. But, did you know that it’s just as important to see your doctor when you’re feeling well? In fact, experts recommend that all women — including teenagers and young adults — have a checkup at least once every year. Most of the time, your annual physical will be done by your primary care provider. Or, for a child, a pediatrician will do the exam.
A note before we go on: Although we’re using the term “doctor” to refer to your primary care provider, in reality, there are two other types of healthcare professionals that people often see for annual exams: a physician’s assistant (PA) or nurse practitioner (NP). Whether you’re seeing a medical doctor (MD or DO), physician’s assistant, or nurse practitioner, your experience and the quality of care will be similar.
Let’s take a closer look at what to expect at your annual visit, including what screening tests and vaccinations you’ll need at every age.
In need of menopause symptom relief?
Get Premarin for over 55% less than the average retail price with GoodRx.
What is an annual physical exam?
An annual physical exam is your yearly checkup with your primary care provider. It goes by other names, too:
Annual physical
Wellness visit
Well-woman exam
Your annual physical is a type of preventive care visit. This means it’s designed to prevent health problems or to catch and treat problems as early as possible. It often includes:
A conversation
A physical exam
Health recommendations
Additional screening tests
Vaccinations
Going to your annual exam can help you stay healthy and protect you from having bigger problems down the road. It’s also a great time to ask questions and to get information about your health.
Curious about your breast cancer screening options? Here’s what you need to know about breast screening, including what to do if insurance won’t cover it.
Don’t have a primary care provider? Learn about why you need a primary care provider at every age. Spoiler alert: It’s not just for your annual physical exam.
Nervous about having a pelvic exam? We’ve got you covered. Here’s how to prepare and what to expect.
Need motivation to get that colorectal cancer screening? An advocate shares his sister’s journey with rectal cancer and encourages others to keep up with their cancer screenings.
What to expect at an annual physical exam
Most of the time, an annual physical exam follows the same basic format. Here’s what to expect.
Checking in
Your visit begins when you arrive at the clinic and check in at the front desk. You may need to show identification and your health insurance card (if you’re covered). You might also be asked to fill out a questionnaire about your health.
Moving to the examination room
After a short wait, you’ll be shown to a private examination room by a nurse or medical assistant. They might also:
Measure your height and weight
Take your blood pressure
Ask you what medications and vitamins you’re taking
The nurse or medical assistant will let you know whether or not you need to undress for your appointment. If you do, they’ll give you a drape or hospital gown to wear.
Remember: You have the right to feel comfortable at every step of the way during your visit. If you’d prefer to not be weighed or would like to keep your clothes on, it’s OK. Just let the staff know.
Seeing the doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant
After you’re settled in the exam room (and changed into your gown, if needed), your primary care provider will come in for your visit. They will start with some questions about:
Your health
Your lifestyle
Your medical history
Your family history
Read more like this
Explore these related articles, suggested for readers like you.
Then, they’ll move on to a physical exam.
During the physical exam, your doctor may:
Listen to your heart and lungs with a stethoscope
Tap your chest and feel your abdomen with their hands
Look in your ears, nose, and mouth with a special light
Do a pelvic exam or a breast exam
Again, when it comes to the interview and physical exam, you have the right to feel safe, comfortable, and supported along the way. It’s fine to ask questions or ask to skip parts of the exam.
Wrapping up
At the end of your visit, your doctor may have some health suggestions for you. They might also ask you to go for lab tests or other procedures.
Before you finish the visit, be sure to ask any questions you have. If there’s something you didn’t understand, it’s totally acceptable to ask your doctor to explain it again (or more clearly).
Annual physical exam checklist by age
Your annual physical exam will change throughout your lifetime. The right screening tests you have will depend on many factors, such as your:
Age
Risk factors
Past medical history
Overall health
Personal preferences
Here are the general recommendations for what your annual physical exam should include at every age.
Age 13 to 20
Blood pressure check (starting at age 18)
Pregnancy and STI testing, as needed
Conversations about birth control options, if needed
Cholesterol screening (once, between age 17 to 21)
Age 21 to 29
Blood pressure check
Pregnancy and STI testing, as needed
Conversations about family planning and birth control, as needed
Cholesterol screening every 4 to 6 years
Pelvic exam and cervical cancer screening (Pap test) every 3 years
Age 30 to 50
Blood-pressure check
Pregnancy and STI testing, as needed
Conversations about family planning and birth control, as needed
Cholesterol screening every 4 to 6 years
Pelvic exam and cervical cancer screening (Pap or HPV test) every 3 to 5 years
Diabetes screening every three years (starting at age 35)
Mammograms every 2 years (starting at age 40)
Colorectal cancer screening at regular intervals (starting at age 45)
Age 50 and beyond
Blood pressure check
Pregnancy and STI testing as needed
Check-in conversations about birth control, as needed, usually until menopause or age 50 to 55
Cholesterol screening every 4 to 6 years
Pelvic exam and cervical cancer screening (Pap or HPV test) every 3 to 5 years, until aged 65
Diabetes screening every 3 years
Mammograms every 2 years (through age 74)
Colorectal cancer screening at regular intervals until age 75 (then, as needed, from age 76 to 85)
Yearly lung cancer screening as needed, based on your smoking history
Osteoporosis screening starting at age 65
Why do you need to have screening tests?
Screening tests can help to catch health problems early on — even before you have symptoms. Let’s take a closer look at common screening tests you might encounter at your annual exam, and why your doctor may recommend them.
Blood pressure screening
High blood pressure (hypertension) increases your risk of heart disease. Catching high blood pressure early is important because it can be treated. And it will cause less damage the earlier it’s caught.
Screening for high blood pressure is done with a cuff that wraps around your arm. This cuff measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart pumps blood and when it rests.
Cholesterol screening
High cholesterol can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke. Just like high blood pressure, finding it early can help prevent problems later on. Screening for high cholesterol is done with a blood test.
Sexually transmitted infection screening
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common. And getting screened for them regularly is important for anyone who’s sexually active.
But STI screening is especially important for women because STIs can be harder to diagnose in women.
If you want to become pregnant, STIs can make it hard to do so. And, if you are pregnant, some STIs can be passed from a pregnant parent to their baby.
There are different screening tests for different STIs. Sometimes, you might need to give a urine sample or do a blood test. Other times, you might need a swab of your genitals to check for certain germs.
Cervical cancer screening
Cervical screening catches cervical cancer very early, when it’s easiest to treat and cure. Cervical screening involves twodifferent tests: the Pap smear (Pap test) and HPV test. Both tests are done during a pelvic exam.
Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes can lead to various medical problems, including heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease. Keep in mind that if you have risk factors (like a family member with diabetes), your provider may screen you earlier and more often.
Diabetes screening can be done with several different blood tests, such as fasting glucose and A1C. A1C is the best test for diagnosing diabetes. It measures your average blood sugar levels over the past 2 to 3 months.
Breast cancer screening
Breast screening can detect breast cancer very early, when it’s still easy to treat. A mammogram (breast X-ray) is the most common screening test. Depending on your age and medical history, other imaging tests — such as ultrasound or MRI — may be offered.
Colorectal cancer
By getting screened for colorectal cancer, you’re more likely to find precancerous lesions (called polyps) before they turn into cancer. And a gastroenterologist can then remove any polyps you have.
Colon cancer screening tests may involve a:
Stool test
Colonoscopy (a camera test that takes pictures of your entire colon)
Sigmoidoscopy (a camera test that takes pictures of the last part of your colon)
CT scan
Your doctor can help you figure out which type of screening is right for you.
Osteoporosis
About1 in 10 women over the age of 60 have osteoporosis. Many people don’t realize they have it until they break a bone. So, screening for this condition is especially important. This screening is done with a type of low-dose X-ray called a DEXA scan.
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in U.S. adults. Screening with a CT scan is recommended in people between the ages of 55 and 80, who meet both of these criteria:
You currently smoke, or you quit in the last 15 years.
You have smoked 20 pack-years or more. (A pack-year is an average of one pack of cigarettes per day for 1 year.)
Other mental and physical health conditions
Here are some other screening tests that are important for your health. These tests might also be included as part of your annual visit. Some of them involve just answering a few questions or filling out a questionnaire.
Your primary care provider may talk to you about:
Alcohol, tobacco, and substance use
Anxiety and depression
Contraceptive counseling and methods
Fall prevention
Interpersonal and domestic violence
Skin cancer screening and counseling
Urinary incontinence
What vaccinations do you need as an adult?
Vaccinations are another important part of staying healthy. They help prevent infections and accompanying health problems.
Based on public health guidelines, most vaccines are given during childhood. But some vaccines are recommended for teenagers and adults, too.
Here are the routine vaccines recommended for most women:
HPV vaccine: HPV vaccination is recommended for teens and adults aged 26 or younger who didn’t get vaccinated earlier in life. It’s optional for adults between the ages of 27 to 45. It’s not recommended for women after age 45.
Meningitis vaccine: Some states require this vaccine for students starting college. If live in a dorm or residence hall, this vaccine is recommended during your first year of college.
Flu vaccine: An annual flu vaccine is recommended for all teens and adults.Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccines (Tdap or Td): All adults should have a Tdap or Td vaccine every 10 years.
Shingles vaccine: The shingles vaccine is recommended for adults aged 50 and older.
Pneumococcal vaccine: The pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for adults age 65 and older.
COVID-19 vaccine: The CDC currently recommends all teens and adults have the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine.
And, remember, vaccine recommendations are different for everyone. You may need additional (or fewer) vaccines depending on:
Which vaccines you received as a child
Your current health
Your age and birth year
Your past medical history
Whether or not you’re pregnant
Your upcoming travel plans
Your job
For example, certain adults over 60 might benefit from RSV vaccination. Your doctor can help you understand which vaccines are right for you, based on these different factors.
The bottom line
An annual physical exam, or “well-woman exam,” is a checkup you should have with your primary care provider every year. During this visit, they’ll ask questions about your health and do a physical exam. They might also suggest vaccinations or screening tests based on your age and health history.
It’s a great idea to keep up with these regular checkups. Going to your annual exam supports your long-term health and can give you peace of mind. After all, these visits can help you find potential health problems early — and possibly prevent bigger issues in the future.
Why trust our experts?
References
American Cancer Society. (2024). Key statistics for cervical cancer.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Lung cancer basics.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Pneumococcal vaccination.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). What vaccines are recommended for you.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). When women can stop using contraceptives.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). About cholesterol.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). About Type 2 diabetes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Are you up to date on your preventive care?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough vaccination.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Family health history for adults.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). RSV vaccination for older adults 60 years of age and over.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Screening for lung cancer.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Testing for cholesterol.
Endocrine Society. (2022). Menopause and bone loss.
Hayward, R. A., et al. (2024). Screening for Type 2 diabetes mellitus. UpToDate.
Immunize.org. (2024). Vaccine-specific requirements.
U.S. Preventive Services. (2018). Cervical cancer: screening.
U.S. Preventive Services. (2021). Hypertension in adults: screening.
U.S. Preventive Services. (2024). Breast cancer: screening.
