Unless your primary care doctor advises that you require a different checkup schedule, the National Institutes of Health recommends the following guidelines for routine primary health care services for adults between the ages of 18 and 39:
Screen for high blood pressure
- Check every 2 years.
- If you have diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems or certain other conditions, you may need to be monitored more closely.
Screen for high cholesterol
- Men over age 34 should be checked every five years.
- If you have diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems or certain other conditions, you may need to be monitored more closely.
Immunizations
- After age 19, you should have a one-time tetanus-diphtheria and acellular pertussis vaccine as one of your tetanus-diphtheria vaccines. This is also called the Tdap vaccine.
- You should have a tetanus-diphtheria booster every 10 years.
- Your doctor may recommend other immunizations if you are at high risk for conditions such as pneumonia.
Physical exam
- You should have two physical exams in your 20s.
- During the first exam, ask to have your cholesterol checked.
Men
- Men should do a monthly testicular self-exam. If you are not sure what you should be looking for, contact your health care provider for instruction.
Women
- You may decide to do a monthly breast self-exam. Contact your doctor immediately if you notice a change in your breasts.
- A primary care provider should do a complete breast exam every 3 years for women age 20-40.
- Women should have a pelvic exam and Pap smear every one to two years to check for cervical cancer. Screening should start within three years after first having vaginal intercourse or by age 21.
- If you are over age 30 or your Pap smears have been negative for three years in a row, your doctor may tell you that you only need a Pap smear every two to three years.
- If you have had a total hysterectomy (uterus and cervix removed) you may choose not to have Pap smears.
- If you are sexually active you should be screened for a chlamydia infection. This can be done during a pelvic exam.