Let’s face it: Your hormones are demanding a lot of your attention. They’re needy to begin with, and as soon as menopause sets in, they become even more so. Be careful, though; don’t neglect the rest of your body. In addition to your regular pelvic exams, pap smears, cholesterol and blood pressure tests and monthly self-breast exams, add the following tests to your to-do lists.

Mammogram

It’s no secret that breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in the U.S. Detecting cancer earlier substantially increases the likelihood of successful treatment. A mammogram checks for abnormalities in the breast by compressing the breast tissue between the plates of a mammogram machine. The test is quick and non-invasive, and though rumors abound about how painful it is, the truth is, it’s not that bad at all.

When to start? 40 years old

How often? Annually

Colonoscopy

This year, 145,000 cases of colon cancer will be diagnosed. The colonoscopy is done in a doctor’s off or in a hospital, and you’ll be given anesthesia. A flexible plastic tube with a fiber-optic tip is inserted in the anus and passed up the colon, where photos of any abnormalities are taken. Sounds scary, doesn’t it? But remember: you’ll be asleep the entire time. And if Katie Couric can do it in front of a nationwide audience, the rest of us can do it behind closed doors.

When to start? 50 years old

How often? Every ten years, or more often for those with a family history of colon cancer or polyps

Total Body Skin Exam

About one million Americans develop skin cancer each year, so be smart about your own epidermal health and head to the doctor for an entirely painless full-body exam. The doctor will examine every discoloration, mole, growth and spot and mark them on a map of your body. At each subsequent exam, the doctor will compare any new marks on your body to the chart.

When to start? 50 years old, or earlier for people with a family history or personal history of skin cancer, or those with excessive sun exposure

How often? Annually

Fasting Plasma Glucose

Here’s an astounding bit of information: Of the 20.8 million people in the U.S. with diabetes, only one-third are aware that they have the disease. This is even more staggering considering that the test for diabetes is a routine blood draw, done in a doctor’s office or lab, and requires one quick prick of a needle in your arm. The test itself measures blood sugar, which is an indicator of diabetes. Scared of needles? Bring a friend to hold your hand.

When to start? 45

How often? Every three years, or at your health-care provider’s discretion

Glaucoma Test

The eyes are the windows to the soul, so we should be doing everything we can to keep them healthy, especially when it comes to glaucoma. A leading cause of blindness, glaucoma rarely has any symptoms. During the test, which measures eye pressure and eye health, your doctor will place numbing eye drops in the eyes before looking into them with a bright-blue light, which measures the pressure. You won’t feel a thing! When caught early, glaucoma can be treated with eye drops, pills, laser surgery, eye operations or a combination of these methods. If you want to know more about glaucoma, click here.

When to start? 60 for healthy adults; 40 for those with risk factors

How often? Annually

Bone Density Test

Women are four times more likely than men to develop osteoporosis. The test for bone density is simple and painless, conducted with a densitometry machine, and the treatment for a decrease in bone mass is medication.

When to start? 65, or around the age of menopause if you have risk factors

How often? Every two years