Preventive care includes regular checkups, screenings, vaccines, and honest talks with your health care provider. These visits help protect your health at every age—from childhood through older adulthood.
Preventive Care Is Worth Your Time
Preventive care helps find health problems early, when they are often easier to treat. Many health conditions do not cause symptoms right away. You can feel healthy and still have an issue that needs care.
By staying up to date with preventive care, you give yourself the best chance to stay healthy now and in the future.
Preventive Care Matters at Every Age
-
Growing Years: Children and Teens
-
Preventive Care for Adult Men
-
Preventive Care for Adult Women
Growing Years: Children and Teens
Preventive care for children and teens is centered around regular well-child visits, which are recommended frequently during infancy and early childhood and then annually after they turn three. These visits typically include:
Physical exams and measurements
- Height and weight
- Head size during infancy
- Body mass index (BMI) as children grow
- Blood pressure beginning at age three
Vaccines
- Routine childhood vaccines (based on age)
- Annual flu shot
- Tween/teen vaccines like HPV, meningococcal, and Tdap
- COVID-19 vaccines based on current guidance
Growth and behavior checks
- Screenings to see how a child is growing and learning
- Autism screening in early childhood
- Depression screening (starting in adolescence)
- Chlamydia/STI testing (for teens based on risk factors)
Vision and hearing
- Eye and hearing checks at recommended ages
Guidance and support
- Healthy eating and physical activity
- Dental care
- Injury and safety tips
- Mental and emotional health
- Healthy screen time habits
- Talk about risky behaviors during tween/teen years
These visits are also a chance for parents, caregivers, and teens to talk openly with a provider about growth, development, and changing health needs.
Preventive Care for Adult Men
Preventive care helps men stay proactive about their health—whether they feel perfectly healthy or are managing changes that come with age.
Screenings and tests
- Cholesterol and heart health screening
- Diabetes and prediabetes screening
- Colorectal cancer screening starting at age 45
- Hepatitis C screening
- Talks about prostate cancer screening based on age and risk
- Lung cancer screening for people with a long smoking history
Vaccines
- Annual flu shot
- Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis boosters
- Shingles and pneumococcal vaccines at older ages
- COVID-19 vaccines as recommended
Physical exams
- Height, weight, and BMI
- Blood pressure
- Vision checks
- Hearing checks later in life
Health and lifestyle review
- Family health history
- Physical activity
- Tobacco, alcohol, and substance use
- Sexual health
Guidance and counseling
- Healthy eating and physical activity
- Help quitting smoking
- Mental health and depression screening
- Injury prevention
- HIV and sexual health screening
- Advance care planning later in life
Preventive care needs can change with age, so regular visits help keep care on track.
Preventive Care for Adult Women
Preventive care for women supports physical, emotional, and reproductive health through every stage of life.
Screenings and tests
- Pap tests starting at age 21
- Routine chlamydia/STI testing (if sexually active)
- HPV testing later in adulthood
- Breast cancer screening starting at age 40
- Colorectal cancer screening starting at age 45
- Diabetes and cholesterol checks
- Bone health screening later in life
- Hepatitis C screening
Vaccines
- Annual flu shot
- Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis boosters
- HPV vaccination when appropriate
- Shingles and pneumonia vaccines at older ages
- COVID-19 vaccines as recommended
Physical exams
- Height, weight, and BMI
- Blood pressure
- Vision checks
- Hearing checks later in life
Health and lifestyle review
- Family and personal health history
- Healthy eating and physical activity
- Tobacco, alcohol, and substance use
- Sexual and reproductive health
Guidance and counseling
- Mental health and depression screening
- Family planning
- HIV and sexual health screening
- Injury prevention
- Dental health
- Advance care planning later in life
Regular visits help women stay informed as their health needs change over time.
Preventive Care for Transgender People
Preventive care for transgender individuals should be personal and respectful. Screenings and exams are based on anatomy and health history, not gender identity. In addition to annual check-ups and recommended vaccines, preventive care should also include:
Organ-Based Cancer Screening
Transgender people who have:
- A cervix should follow the cervical cancer schedule (Pap/HPV)
- Breast tissue should follow the mammogram schedule (begin at age 40 unless high-risk)
- A prostate should follow prostate cancer screening guidance
Hormone Therapy Monitoring
- Metabolic panel annually or as advised
- Lipid panel every 1–2 years
- Bone density scans are recommended for people on long-term hormone suppression or over age 50
Sexual & Reproductive Health
- Fertility counseling before and after gender-affirming treatments
Inclusive Care Reminder
Preventive care should reflect you. Open, ongoing conversations with your provider help create a care plan that fits your needs.
One Size Doesn’t Fit All
While recommendations cover most people at normal risk, you might need additional services depending on your family history, lifestyle, or specific health concerns. For example, someone with a family history of colorectal cancer may need to start screening earlier than age 45.
The Takeaway
Preventive care is one of the most powerful ways to care for your health. It helps catch problems early and supports healthy living at every age.
Think of preventive care as a routine that works quietly in the background, helping you stay well so you can focus on living your life. If you’re not sure what care you need, scheduling a preventive visit with your primary care provider is a great place to start.
