Preventive check-ups/early detection for adults
Age |
Gender |
Examination/ Where? |
How often? |
from 18 – 35 years |
women and men |
Health check-up at the GP practice |
1x between the ages of 18-34 |
20 years and older |
women |
Cancer screening: genital examination (Pap smear) for early detection by gynaecologists |
once a year |
30 years and older |
women |
In addition to cancer screening: Breast and skin examination by gynaecologists as well as self-examination of the breast, gynaecologists show how to do it |
once a year |
up to 25 years |
women |
Test for an infection with chlamydia at the gynaecologist |
once a year |
35 years and older |
women |
Screening: Cytological examination and HPV test at the gynaecologist |
every 3 years |
35 years and older |
women and men |
Health check-up for early detection of, for example, kidney, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes in the GP practice.
Screening for hepatitis B and hepatitis C infection |
every 3 years
once within the 3 years |
35 years and older |
women and men |
Skin cancer screening of the entire body
Please note: Only by doctors who have a licence and approval from the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (Kassenärztlichen Vereinigungen KV) = list of the KV responsible for the region |
every 2 years |
45 years and older |
men |
Genital and prostate cancer screening at the urologist |
once a year |
50 years and older |
women |
Early detection of bowel cancer for blood in the stool by general practitioners, gynaecologists or internal medicine doctors |
once a year |
50 years and older |
men |
Early detection of bowel cancer at the age of 50 – 54 as a test for blood in the stool by general practitioners, urologists or doctors of internal medicine
or
2 colonoscopies in a gastroenterology practice |
once a year
at least every 10 years |
from 50 – 75 years old |
women |
Women receive an invitation to mammography screening for the early detection of breast cancer |
every 2 years |
55 years and older |
women |
Early detection of bowel cancer as a test for blood in the stool
or
2 colonoscopies in gastroenterology practice |
every 2 years
at least every 10 years |
65 years and older |
men |
Ultrasound examination for the early detection of aneurysms of the abdominal aorta at certain GP practices, urologists, internists and surgeons with corresponding authorisation from the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (Kassenärztlichen Vereinigung KV) |
1x at age 65 + |
Preventive check-ups/early detection for children
Booster vaccinations for adults
Vaccination |
Who? |
How often? |
Tetanus and Diphtheria |
everyone |
every 10 years |
Whooping cough (pertussis) |
everyone |
1x between the ages of 18 and 60 |
Measles |
Anyone who was born after 1970, is older than 18 and does not know exactly whether they have already been vaccinated or were only vaccinated once in childhood. |
1x if vaccination status is not known (see column Who?) |
Pneumococci |
|
1x at the age of 60 and over |
Flu (influenza) |
|
Once a year from the age of 60 for chronically ill people, pregnant women, people and people with an increased risk of infection. |
Shingles (herpes zoster) |
|
from the age of 60
from the age of 50, with diabetes or asthma |
TBE (tick-borne tick-borne encephalitis) |
Anyone who spends time in risk areas within Germany and may come into contact with ticks. |
|
RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) |
People with serious underlying diseases of the respiratory organs, kidneys or cardiovascular system as well as residents in care facilities are at risk. |
1x from the age of 75
1x for risk groups aged 60 and over (see Who? column) |
General examinations and vaccinations for children
After the birth, parents receive a booklet containing all the important examinations.
In the first 6 years of life, there are ten preventive medical check-ups (U-examinations).
These are called U1 to U9, including U7a.
The organs of the body are examined, for example sensory organs, respiration, digestion, skeleton, musculature and metabolism. It is also checked whether the child is developing and behaving normally.
During the examinations, children are vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, measles, mumps and rubella, for example.
The Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) recommends that girls and boys between the ages of 9 and 14 should be vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV).
These viruses can cause cervical cancer in girls and women.
In boys and men, these viruses can cause malignant tumours in the genital area.
Young people who have not yet been vaccinated against HPV by the age of 15 should do so.
Young people between the ages of 12 and 15 can go to the doctor regularly for a check-up (youth health examination/J1).
Dental check-ups for children
Between the age of 6 months and 6 years, there are 6 examinations to recognise dental, oral and jaw diseases at an early stage.
Children and young people between the ages of 6 and 18 go to the dentist once a year. There they are examined so that dental diseases can be recognised at an early stage (individual prophylaxis).