Many women seem to have a tendency to make sure that the people around them are cared for and looked after, but sometimes they forget to take care of themselves.
National Women’s Checkup Day brings attention to this concern, recognizing that all women need to have regular, annual check-ups from their medical provider to practice preventative health care – as a benefit to themselves, their loved ones, and the world they impact!
National Women’s Checkup Day Timeline
Papanicolaou Identifies Cervical Cancer Cells
Greek physician Georgios Papanicolaou reports that malignant cells can be detected in vaginal smears, laying the scientific foundation for the Pap test that will become central to women’s preventive checkups.
First Clinical Use of the Pap Smear for Screening
The Pap smear is introduced into clinical practice in the United States as a routine screening test, leading over time to a dramatic decrease in cervical cancer incidence and mortality among women who receive regular exams.
American Cancer Society Promotes Routine Pap Testing
The American Cancer Society begins actively promoting regular Pap smear screening, helping to normalize gynecologic exams as a standard part of women’s annual checkups across the country.
ACOG Issues First Guidelines for Well‑Woman Care
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists publishes early guidance on routine gynecologic examinations, encouraging periodic visits focused on prevention and screening rather than only pregnancy or acute illness.
First Mammography Screening Trials Show Benefit
Results from large randomized trials in New York and Sweden show that screening mammography can reduce breast cancer mortality, supporting the gradual incorporation of regular breast exams and mammograms into women’s preventive care.
USPSTF Begins Issuing Preventive Care Recommendations
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is established and starts publishing evidence-based guidelines, including for Pap smears, mammography, blood pressure, and cholesterol checks, shaping the content of routine women’s health visits.
Affordable Care Act Expands Preventive Services for Women
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires most health plans to cover a range of women’s preventive services, such as well-woman visits, cervical and breast cancer screening, and contraception, without cost-sharing.
How to Celebrate National Women’s Checkup Day
Schedule a Health Checkup
One of the first things to do in honor of National Women’s Checkup Day is right in the name – call or hop online to schedule an appointment with a primary care provider, nurse practitioner, or health clinic to get a checkup.
Understand Women’s Health Checkups
Those women who are concerned about what might happen at a medical checkup might want to be a bit more prepared.
While it might vary between medical providers, the basics might include general screenings such as weight, blood pressure, and lung checks as well as some of these things:
- Breast Health Exam
- Pap Smear and Cervical Screening
- Diabetes and Bone Density Screening (based on age)
- Lipid or cholesterol screening
If concerned, feel free to ask questions when making the appointment. Medical professionals should be happy to share information that helps their patients feel confident about their care.
Schedule Other Health Screenings
Women’s Checkup Day might bring to attention the need for an overall checkup, or it might reveal a particular screening that might not take place as often. For instance, a mammogram, skin cancer screening, colon cancer screening or some other test might be recommended by a doctor every 2-5 years.
History of National Women’s Checkup Day
Founded by the US Department of Health and Human Services, the event takes place as part of the larger initiative called National Women’s Health Week.
This event takes place during this time of the year, intentionally linked with Mother’s Day, which serves as an added reminder that all women, including mothers, need to take care of themselves.
National Women’s Checkup Day was first celebrated in 2003 and has grown over the years. It is now observed by a wide range of organizations and groups, including healthcare facilities and government agencies, such as the US Food & Drug Administration and the Office on Women’s Health.
Each year, this event is celebrated along with a different theme that shines a spotlight on a particular topic related to women’s health. Some of the past themes have included:
- Empowering Women, Cultivating Health: Celebrating Voices, Wellness and Resilience (2024)
- Women’s Health, Whole Health: Prevention, Care and Wellbeing (2023)
- Forward Focus: Achieving Healthier Futures Together (2022)
- Ending the Pandemic and Elevating Women’s Health (2021)
Acting as an important reminder for women to make an appointment with their doctor to get a health checkup, National Women’s Checkup Day is here!
Facts About National Women’s Checkup Day
Cardiovascular Disease Is the Top Killer of Women
In the United States, cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, is the leading cause of death for women, accounting for about 1 in every 5 female deaths.
Many women remain unaware of their personal risk, and classic “male” symptoms are often emphasized more than women’s warning signs, which can lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment.
The Pap Test Dramatically Reduced Cervical Cancer Deaths
The introduction of the Pap test for cervical cancer screening in the mid-20th century led to one of the most striking successes in cancer prevention.
In countries where routine Pap screening became widespread, cervical cancer incidence and mortality fell by more than 60 percent over several decades, largely because precancerous changes could be detected and treated early.
Mammography Screening Lowered Breast Cancer Mortality
Regular mammography screening for women in appropriate age groups is associated with a substantial reduction in deaths from breast cancer.
Large observational studies and modeling analyses suggest that mammography can lower breast cancer mortality by roughly 20 to 40 percent among women who are invited to be screened, reflecting the benefits of finding tumors when they are smaller and more treatable.
The Affordable Care Act Changed Preventive Visits for Women
In the United States, the Affordable Care Act required many health plans to cover a range of evidence-based preventive services for women without cost sharing, including well-woman visits, contraception, and certain cancer screenings.
These recommendations were shaped by an Institute of Medicine report that emphasized comprehensive preventive care throughout a woman’s life course rather than focusing only on pregnancy-related services.
Racial Gaps Persist in Women’s Preventive Care
Despite overall gains, women of color in the United States remain less likely to receive key preventive services such as cholesterol checks, blood pressure control, and cancer screening.
Studies show that Black and Hispanic women, in particular, face higher rates of uninsurance, structural barriers, and discrimination within health systems, contributing to worse outcomes in conditions like breast cancer and cardiovascular disease even when preventive tools exist.
Hypertension in Women Is Often Undiagnosed or Poorly Controlled
High blood pressure is a major driver of stroke, heart failure, and kidney disease in women, yet many women with hypertension are either unaware of their condition or do not have it adequately controlled.
Analyses from the American Heart Association note that women’s blood pressure often rises after menopause, and that sex-specific factors such as pregnancy-related hypertension can increase lifetime cardiovascular risk if not carefully followed with regular checkups.
Global Cervical Cancer Burden Falls Heaviest on Low-Resource Settings
Cervical cancer is largely preventable through HPV vaccination and regular screening, but nearly 90 percent of cervical cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries where organized screening and treatment are limited.
The World Health Organization reports that improving access to simple screening tests and follow-up care could avert hundreds of thousands of premature deaths among women each year worldwide.
