The Health Checks Women Keep Putting Off

Nine in ten women say regular health screenings matter. Yet 43% have skipped or delayed one their health care professional recommended, according to a Gallup survey of 4,001 U.S. women conducted for the medical technology company Hologic. The checks they skip most are the ones that catch cancer early. This guide walks through each one: who needs it, how often, what to expect, and exactly how to book it.

Why Women Keep Putting Off Their Own Health

The skipped appointments are not a sign that women do not care. In that same Gallup survey, women pointed to anxiety, cost, worry about pain or discomfort, lack of time, and doubt that the screening was necessary. Coverage of the surveyadds that more than 60% of respondents said it is hard to make their own health a priority, often because family members and work come first. Gallup estimated that about 72 million U.S. women have skipped or delayed a recommended screening.

The pattern shows up in the specific tests, too. Gallup's breakdown by test was 41% for breast cancer screening, 35% for cervical cancer screening and 33% for colorectal cancer screening. The survey also found differences by race: 27% of Black women skipped or delayed a screening, compared with 41% of Latina women and 47% of both Asian and white women. The survey authors point to access, cost and mistrust of the medical system as factors behind low screening rates overall.

A separate Ipsos poll for the Alliance for Women's Health and Prevention found that 45% of women had gone without preventive care in the past year, such as check-ups, screenings or vaccines. About a quarter of those women named cost as the biggest barrier, and 23% pointed to limited time.

The habit starts early. A 2025 survey of 1,000 women ages 18 to 30, published in Women's Health Reports, found that 24% had never had a well-woman exam and another 30% had waited more than a year. The researchers linked delays to two things: how the patient felt treated by her provider, and insurance coverage.

The good news is that most of these barriers are fixable with a plan. The next section gives you one.

Start Here: Book One Visit, Not Eight

You do not need to schedule every screening separately. Book one preventive visit with your primary care clinician or your OB-GYN and use it to sort out what you are due for. Here is how, step by step.

1. Find your age in the table below. It lists who is recommended for each check, based on current national guidance. Circle every row that applies to you.

2. Write down your family history. Note any relatives with breast cancer, colon cancer, heart disease, diabetes or osteoporosis. Family history can change when screening should start, and clinicians rely on it to personalize prevention.

3. Call and ask for a preventive visit. Try this script: "I'd like to schedule a preventive visit. I'm [your age], and I want to review which screenings I'm due for, including cervical, breast, colorectal, blood pressure and blood sugar."

4. Ask how the visit will be billed. Say: "Will this be billed as a preventive visit, and which screenings are covered without a copay?" Coverage rules are explained later in this article.

5. Before you leave, ask three questions. Which of these am I due for? Which can we do today? When is my next one due? Book the follow-ups at the front desk before you walk out.

Quick reference: who needs which check

• Cervical cancer screening: Ages 21 to 29, a Pap test every 3 years. Ages 30 to 65, an HPV test every 5 years, or every 3 years if self-collected, per the American Cancer Society.

• Mammogram: Ages 40 to 74. Every other year per the Task Force; yearly for ages 45 to 55 per the American Cancer Society.

• Colorectal cancer screening: Ages 45 to 75 at average risk. How often depends on the test.

• Blood pressure: All adults. Ask your clinician how often; at least yearly after high blood pressure in pregnancy.

• Blood sugar: Ages 35 to 70 with overweight or obesity. Ask your clinician how often.

• Bone density: Women 65 and older, and postmenopausal women under 65 at higher risk. Ask your clinician how often.

• Depression and anxiety: Depression screening for all adults, including pregnant and postpartum women. Anxiety screening for adults 64 and younger. There is no set frequency for depression screening.

• Skin check: No routine recommendation for adults without symptoms. Talk with your clinician.

These are guidelines for people at average risk. If you have a personal or family history of any of these conditions, your clinician may start earlier or test more often.

Check 1: Cervical Cancer Screening (Now Possible Without the Stirrups)

The short version: Cervical cancer is largely preventable, and the testing options just got easier.

The American Cancer Society estimated 14,100 new cervical cancer cases and 4,280 deaths in the United States in 2026. Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by HPV, a common virus, which is why the main screening test now looks for HPV itself rather than only for abnormal cells.

What changed. In early January 2026, the Department of Health and Human Services released updated guidelines through the Health Resources and Services Administration. They introduce self-collection for HPV testing for women at average risk and name HPV testing as the preferred method. Federal rules are set to remove patient cost-sharing for self-collection and the necessary follow-up tests starting January 1, 2027. The American Cancer Society's 2025 update also accepts self-collected vaginal samples done privately, in a clinic or at home, with no clinician present. If that sample is HPV negative, repeat it every three years. A sample collected by a clinician is still preferred and is repeated every five years.

At home is real. In May 2025 the FDA approved the Teal Wand, described by Pharmacy Times as the first at-home self-collection device for cervical cancer screening.

Who and how often. Guidance differs slightly by organization, so confirm with your clinician. The Task Force draft recommends a Pap test every three years for ages 21 to 29 and HPV-based screening every five years starting at 30. The American Cancer Society suggests no screening for ages 21 to 24 and HPV-based screening preferred from 25. The Society's 2025 update also explains when screening can safely stop, based on negative tests at 60 and 65.

How to book it. Call your primary care office or OB-GYN and say: "I'd like a cervical cancer screening. Can I do an HPV test, and is self-collection an option?" If you are due and have put it off, this is the easiest one to restart. Ask when your last result was and what your next due date is.

Check 2: Mammogram (Start at 40, Not 50)

The short version: If you are 40 or older, you are in the screening window.

In April 2024 the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended a mammogram every other year starting at age 40 and continuing through age 74, a change from earlier guidance that left the decision to women in their 40s and their doctors. The recommendation covers both traditional digital mammography and 3D mammography, also called tomosynthesis. The same recommendation statement noted that breast cancer incidence rose an average of 2% a year from 2015 to 2019.

Other groups go further. The American Cancer Society says women ages 40 to 44 can choose to screen every year, women 45 to 55 should screen every year, and women 55 and older can switch to every other year. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends screening every one to two years starting at 40. Some experts argue that annual screening produces greater reductions in late-stage disease and deaths than screening every other year, even though the Task Force advises every two years. Ask your clinician which schedule fits your history.

Know your breast density. Since September 10, 2024, an FDA rule has required every mammography facility to tell you in your results letter whether your breasts are dense or not dense. Radiologist Dr. Berg of the University of Pittsburgh, quoted by Patient Care Online, says about 40% of women have dense breasts and nearly 40% of breast cancers are hidden in dense tissue. The letter for women with dense breasts says other imaging tests in addition to a mammogram may help find cancers. If your letter says dense, ask your clinician: "Do I need any additional imaging, given my density and family history?"

How to book it. Call your clinician or a local imaging center and say: "I'm [age] and have never had a screening mammogram," or "I'm due for my screening mammogram." Ask whether you need a referral, and say you want a screening mammogram, not a diagnostic one. If you are 40 or older and have never had one, experts advise raising it with your clinician now. Afterward, watch your mail or patient portal for the results letter and do not assume no news is good news.

Check 3: Colorectal Cancer Screening (The Age Dropped to 45)

The short version: Colon and rectal cancers are showing up in younger adults, so screening now starts at 45 for people at average risk.

The Task Force lowered the starting age from 50 to 45 in 2021, following the American Cancer Society, which made the same move in 2018. The reason is a trend researchers are still working to explain. According to Moffitt Cancer Center, colorectal cancer rates in people under 50 rose about 2% a year from 2012 to 2016. Moffitt's Dr. Ibrahim Halil Sahin has said that by 2040 colorectal cancer is projected to be the leading cause of cancer death for ages 20 to 49.

Starting at 45 works. A study of 111,801 women in the Nurses' Health Study II, published in JAMA Oncology by Massachusetts General Hospital researchers, found a 50% to 60% lower risk of colorectal cancer among women who began endoscopy screening at 45 compared with women who had no screening.

You have choices, and not all involve a colonoscopy. The Task Force lists several options, each with its own schedule, per this summary of the recommendation:

• A high-sensitivity stool test (FIT) every year

• A stool DNA-FIT test every 1 to 3 years

• CT colonography every 5 years

• Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years

• Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 10 years plus a yearly FIT

• Colonoscopy every 10 years

The best test is the one you will actually complete. Ask your clinician to walk you through the pros and cons of each, and which fits your history.

When to start earlier. People with a personal or family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, or with Lynch syndrome, should ask about starting before 45.

How to book it. Say: "I'm [age], and I want to start colorectal cancer screening. What are my options, and which would you recommend for me?" Then ask what to expect if you choose a procedure, including any preparation. This is a common one to put off: the Gallup survey found 33% of women had skipped or delayed colorectal screening.

Check 4: Blood Pressure and Heart Health (The Silent One)

The short version: Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women, and the early warning signs are often numbers, not symptoms.

In 2023, heart disease caused one in five female deaths in the United States, according to the CDC, yet only 56% of women were aware of the risk. High blood pressure is a major driver. The American Heart Association's 2025 guideline reports that nearly half of U.S. adults, 46.7%, have high blood pressure. And because high blood pressure and early kidney disease and diabetes often have no symptoms, the American Heart Association says regular screening is necessary to know your risk.

Heart attacks can look different in women. Along with chest pain, women may have fatigue, nausea and back pain, according to the American Heart Association's Dr. Edith Jones-Poland.

Pregnancy counts. If you had high blood pressure during pregnancy, the 2025 guideline encourages blood pressure checks at least once a year afterward, because it raises your later risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular conditions.

Which numbers to ask for. Dr. Jones-Poland lists the key health indicators as blood pressure, BMI, waist circumference, cholesterol and A1C. Ask for each, and write them down. The 2025 guideline also introduced the PREVENT risk calculator, which estimates your 10-year and 30-year risk of heart attack, stroke or heart failure using age, sex, blood pressure, cholesterol and even ZIP code. You can ask: "Can you run my PREVENT score?"

Check at home. The guidelines encourage using a home blood pressure monitor to confirm a diagnosis and track progress. A reading of 180/120 or higher with chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness or vision changes is a medical emergency. Call 911.

How to book it. This check is often the easiest because it can happen at the same preventive visit. Say: "I'd like my blood pressure and cholesterol checked and my heart-disease risk reviewed."

Check 5: Blood Sugar (Prediabetes Has No Warning Label)

The short version: A simple blood test can show whether your blood sugar is heading toward diabetes while you can still change course.

An estimated 13% of U.S. adults have diabetes and 34.5% meet the criteria for prediabetes, according to the Task Force. In 2021 the Task Force lowered the age to begin screening from 40 to 35 for adults with overweight or obesity, and it applies to ages 35 to 70. The American Diabetes Association's standards go a step further: they say to test at any age when overweight or obesity comes with at least one risk factor, and otherwise to begin at 35. Risk factors for women include a history of gestational diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), along with family history.

The tests. Screening uses a fasting glucose test, an A1C blood test or an oral glucose tolerance test. The American Diabetes Association lists an A1C of 5.7% to 6.4% as the prediabetes range. The Task Force found convincing evidence that preventive steps for people with prediabetes moderately reduce progression to type 2 diabetes.

How to book it. Ask for it at your preventive visit: "Can you check my A1C or fasting glucose? I have [a history of gestational diabetes / PCOS / diabetes in my family]." Ask what your result means in plain language and when to repeat it.

Check 6: Bone Density (Before the Fracture Finds It First)

The short version: Osteoporosis often goes unnoticed until a bone breaks, so the screening is what tells you.

In January 2025 the Task Force recommended osteoporosis screening for all women 65 and older and for postmenopausal women under 65 who are at increased risk. It reports that 27.1% of women 65 and older have osteoporosis. Task Force member Dr. Chien-Wen Tseng has said that without screening, most women do not learn they have it until they have a fracture.

For women under 65, the first step is assessing risk. Factors that raise it include menopause, low body weight, tobacco use and excessive alcohol. The usual screening test is a DXA scan of the hip and spine, which measures bone mineral density.

How to book it. If you are 65 or older, say: "I'd like a bone density scan." If you are postmenopausal and younger, say: "I'm [age] and postmenopausal. Can we assess my risk for osteoporosis and decide whether I need a bone density scan?"

Check 7: Mental Health Screening (Yes, It Counts as a Check-Up)

The short version: Depression and anxiety screening is part of recommended preventive care, and it usually starts with a short questionnaire.

In June 2023 the Task Force recommended screening all adults for depression, including pregnant and postpartum women, and for the first time recommended screening adults younger than 65 for anxiety disorders. The Task Force notes that women have higher rates of depression. Depression can also occur during pregnancy or in the year after childbirth, which the Task Force calls perinatal depression. It cites older U.S. survey data showing lifetime anxiety disorders in 40.4% of women versus 26.4% of men.

What it looks like. Common screening tools include the Patient Health Questionnaire for adults and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale for pregnant and postpartum women. The Task Force stresses that screening is only the first step; people who screen positive need further assessment and care.

How to book it. Say at your preventive visit: "I'd like to be screened for depression and anxiety." If you are pregnant or have had a baby in the past year, say so. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, any time.

Check 8: Skin Check (An Honest Gray Area)

The short version: Experts disagree about routine skin exams, so the best habit is knowing your own skin and speaking up about changes.

The Task Force found in 2016 that the evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against a clinician's visual skin exam in adults without symptoms. The American Academy of Dermatology said it was disappointed with that conclusion and that skin cancer screenings can save lives. The Task Force pointed to possible harms such as overdiagnosis and unnecessary biopsies. That leaves a decision for you and your clinician, especially if you have fair skin, many moles or a family history of melanoma.

How to book it. If a spot has changed in size, shape or color, or is new, ask for an exam rather than waiting for a routine slot. At your preventive visit, ask: "Should I have a skin exam given my history?"

What If You Cannot Afford It, or Cannot Find the Time?

Free and low-cost breast and cervical screening exists. The CDC's National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program provides breast and cervical cancer screenings and diagnostic services to women who have low incomes and are uninsured or underinsured. The American Cancer Society says you can search by state, territory or tribe on the CDC website or call the CDC at 1-800-232-4636. Requirements vary by state, and Breastcancer.org notes that state programs could lose funding if Congress does not reauthorize the program, so call and confirm. Breastcancer.org also lists other routes for free and low-cost mammograms, including National Breast Cancer Foundation partner facilities and YWCA programs.

Insurance basics. Under current law, insurers must cover services recommended by the Task Force with an A or B grade without cost-sharing, which is why a recommendation can decide whether you pay nothing or face a bill for a mammogram or colorectal screening. That is why Step 4 in the plan above asks how the visit will be billed.

A note on changing guidelines. The Task Force has been in transition. It went more than a year without meeting, and on September 17, 2026, the government named eight new members, who attended their first meeting on September 29 and 30. The recommendations in this guide are the most recent published ones. Because the panel's work can change what insurers cover, confirm your coverage with your plan before you book.

Short on time? Time was a barrier for 23% of women in the Ipsos poll. Ask whether your clinician can combine blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, depression screening and a cervical test at one visit, and book your mammogram for the same week. Fewer separate appointments means fewer hours off work or away from family.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should women get a mammogram?

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends a mammogram every other year from age 40 to 74. The American Cancer Society recommends yearly screening for women ages 45 to 55, with the option to start yearly at 40.

At what age should women start colon cancer screening?

Age 45 for people at average risk. The Task Force and the American Cancer Society both recommend starting at 45 rather than 50. Women with a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps should ask about starting earlier.

Can I test for HPV at home?

Yes, in some cases. The FDA approved the first at-home self-collection device for cervical cancer screening in May 2025, and the American Cancer Society now accepts self-collected HPV samples done in a clinic or at home. Ask your clinician whether it is right for you and how to get a result that counts toward your screening.

When should women get a bone density test?

At 65, or earlier if you are postmenopausal and a clinician finds you at increased risk of osteoporosis, according to the Task Force's January 2025 recommendation.

Is heart disease really the leading cause of death in women?

Yes. It accounted for one in five female deaths in the United States in 2023, according to the CDC.

Are preventive screenings free?

Often, but not always. Services the Task Force recommends with an A or B grade generally must be covered without cost-sharing. Confirm with your insurer, and if you are uninsured, ask about the CDC's free and low-cost screening program.

What is the one thing I should do this week?

Call and book one preventive visit using the script in this article. Then put your next due dates on your calendar before you hang up.

This article is for general education and is not medical advice. Screening recommendations vary by personal and family history. Talk with your own clinician about what is right for you.