Screening exams are medical tests done when you’re healthy. When your doctor suggests a screening test, it does not mean he or she thinks you are sick. Screening tests are done when you have no symptoms. They can help find cancer and other diseases at an early stage, before symptoms appear. When abnormal tissue or cancer is found early, it may be easier to treat or cure.
Greenville Health System (GHS) has screening plans for men and women. The exam you get and how often you are tested depends on whether you are at average, increased or high risk.
It’s important to know your family history. If you don’t, a great tool to help you get started can be found here. This information, along with your personal health history, helps your healthcare provider find out if you’re at increased or high risk. You and your healthcare provider can use this information to make well-informed decisions about screenings.
For a printable document with information on recommended screenings, click here.
GHS recommends the following screening exams
Women Ages 18-21
- Well-care visit every year
- First pap test for sexually active women starting at age 21
- Chlamydia test every year for sexually active women through age 24
- HIV test one time during adulthood (through age 64)
- Tetanus-diphtheria booster every 10 years
- Flu vaccine every year
Men Ages 18-21
- Well-care visit every year
- HIV test one time during adulthood (through age 64)
- Tetanus-diphtheria booster every 10 years
- Flu vaccine every year
Women Ages 22-49
- Well-care visit at least once every 4 years
- Pap test every 3 years through age 29; starting at age 30, every 3-5 years
- Chlamydia test every year for sexually active women through age 24
- HIV test one time during adulthood (through age 64)
- Mammogram starting at age 40
- Cholesterol check every 5 years, beginning at age 45
- Blood pressure check every 2 years
- Hepatitis C test one time during adulthood
- Tetanus-diphtheria booster every 10 years
- Flu vaccine every year
Men Ages 22-49
- Well-care visit at least once every 4 years
- HIV test one time during adulthood (through age 64)
- Cholesterol check every 5 years, beginning at age 35
- Blood pressure check every 2 years
- Hepatitis C test one time during adulthood
- Tetanus-diphtheria booster every 10 years
- Flu vaccine every year
Women Ages 50-64
- Well-care visit every 2 years
- Pap test every 3-5 years
- HIV test one time during adulthood (through age 64)
- Mammogram every 1-2 years, based on risk factors
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening, one-time screening for women age 55-75
- Cholesterol check every 5 years, beginning at age 45
- Blood pressure check every 2 years
- Hepatitis C test one time during adulthood
- Colon cancer screening starting at age 50
- Tetanus-diphtheria booster every 10 years
- Flu vaccine every year
- Shingles vaccine at age 60
Men Ages 50-64
- Well-care visit at least once every 2 years
- HIV test one time during adulthood (through age 64)
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening, one-time screening for women age 55-75
- Cholesterol check every 5 years
- Blood pressure check every 2 years
- Hepatitis C test one time during adulthood
- Colon cancer screening starting at age 50
- Prostate cancer screening
- Tetanus-diphtheria booster every 10 years
- Flu vaccine every year
- Shingles vaccine at age 60
Women Ages 65+
- Well-care visit every year
- Mammogram every 1-2 years, based on risk factors
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening, one-time screening for women age 55-75
- Cholesterol check every 5 years, through age 79
- Blood pressure check every year
- Hepatitis C test one time during adulthood
- Colon cancer screening; age 75 +, regular screening not recommended
- Bone density test, as needed
- Vision and hearing checks every year
- Tetanus-diphtheria booster every 10 years
- Flu vaccine every year
- Shingles vaccine if you haven’t had one already
- Pneumococcal vaccine at age 65
Men Ages 65+
- Well-care visit every year
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening, one-time screening for women age 55-75
- Cholesterol check every 5 years, through age 79
- Blood pressure check every year
- Hepatitis C test one time during adulthood
- Colon cancer screening; age 75 +, regular screening not recommended
- Vision and hearing checks every year
- Prostate cancer screening
- Tetanus-diphtheria booster every 10 years
- Flu vaccine every year
- Shingles vaccine if you haven’t already had one
- Pneumococcal vaccine at age 65+
Knowing when to get a mammogram, a colonoscopy or any other screening test can be confusing. However, these tests are important in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and peace of mind for you and your family. You may not be able to prevent every condition, but even then, the best protection is early detection.
If you are interested in getting screened, or you just have questions about when and how to get screened, please contact your primary care physician. He or she can help you decide which screening test is right for you, send you information and arrange your screening. Schedule your screening appointment today by calling (844) GHS-DOCS (447-3627).
If you don’t have a primary care physician, click here to find the physician who will help keep you healthy and loving life!
