Preventive Healthcare for Women in Primary Care: A Narrative Review of Updated Screening, Risk Assessment, and Counseling Recommendations

Women’s preventive care is a cornerstone of primary care and requires continual alignment with evolving evidence, risk stratification tools, and patient-centered counseling. This narrative review summarizes recent changes in women’s health prevention relevant to family physicians with emphasis on practical implementation in routine visits. We reviewed major recommendations and consensus guidance published between 2020 and 2025 across key domains: cancer screening (breast, lung, colorectal, cervical and selected high-risk populations), cardiovascular risk assessment and prevention, osteoporosis risk evaluation and fracture prevention, sexual and reproductive health screening and counseling, immunization in women of reproductive age and during pregnancy, mental health and substance use screening, and preventive counseling for interpersonal violence and lifestyle-related risks. Guidelines were sourced from internationally recognized authorities, including the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), and major specialty societies such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), American Heart Association (AHA), and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), with preference given to the most recent updates and those directly applicable to primary care for women across the life course. Finally, we propose a pragmatic, visit-based approach for integrating updated preventive services into primary care workflows using age- and risk-based strategies and tailored counseling to improve adherence, reduce missed opportunities, and strengthen preventive care for women across the life course.