Women's health checkup in China — planned by decade, not by symptom.

Medically reviewed against WHO and USPSTF women's screening guidance.

A woman's screening needs change by decade, not by symptom. In China, international patients can book women's-specific screening at Grade 3A hospitals with English support from $159 (cervical) and $259 (full gynecology), or a whole-body checkup at $499 (Women's Essential) to $699 (Women's Comprehensive). Everything below is what we actually book, at the prices you actually pay — no insurance, no referral, no waiting list.

Grade 3A hospitals · Female physicians by default · English reports · Bilingual coordinator · On-site in half a day

Why women's screening is planned by decade

Most general checkup packages — the kind an employer books, or the kind you find advertised as a "full body scan" — are built around organs everybody has. They are good at blood pressure, liver enzymes and blood sugar. They are not built around the three things that actually drive preventable illness in women: cervical cancer, breast cancer, and the metabolic and bone changes that follow menopause.

Each of those has a different clock. Cervical screening starts in your twenties and is usually repeated every three to five years. Breast imaging becomes routine around forty. Bone density becomes relevant around and after menopause. Cardiovascular risk, which is the leading cause of death in women worldwide, quietly becomes the dominant concern from the mid-forties onward — and is the item most often left out of "women's health" packages, because it is not thought of as a women's issue.

Screening well means matching the test to the decade, then leaving the rest alone. Adding tests that are not indicated for your age does not make a checkup safer; it makes false alarms more likely and the bill larger. That is the logic the packages below are built on, and it is why the first question our coordinator asks is your age and history rather than which package you want.

Recommended screening by age

Age	Core screening	How often	Where it sits with us
20s	Cervical/HPV screening (from 21–25), baseline blood work, thyroid if symptomatic, STI checks as relevant	Cervical every 3–5 years	Cervical screening, $159
30s	Continue cervical; breast awareness and clinical exam; add pelvic and breast ultrasound; fertility or hormonal assessment if relevant	Cervical every 3–5 years; ultrasound annually	Full gynecology, $259
40s	Add mammogram from 40; cardiovascular risk assessment; colorectal screening from 45; continue cervical	Mammogram every 1–2 years	Women's Essential $499 + mammography add-on, $100
50s	Bone density baseline around menopause; continued breast, cervical and colorectal screening; full cardiovascular workup	Annual checkup; bone density every 2 years	Women's Comprehensive $699
60s+	Bone density, cardiovascular, colorectal and breast screening; cognitive and vision review	Annual	Women's Comprehensive $699 or Personalized

Ages are the common starting points used in WHO and USPSTF guidance for average-risk women. A family history of breast, ovarian or colorectal cancer usually moves the start date earlier — tell the coordinator, and the plan is adjusted before you travel.

What each screening actually involves

Cervical and HPV screening

Our cervical screening pairs HPV genotyping across 23 subtypes with liquid-based cytology (TCT), which is the combination most guidelines treat as the reference standard. Collection takes five to ten minutes and is performed by a female physician by default. If you want the detail — which subtypes matter, what a positive result actually means, and how self-sampling compares — that is covered in full in our HPV screening guide and in the comparison for uninsured US women.

Breast screening

Under forty, breast ultrasound is usually the more useful tool — dense breast tissue is common at that age and mammography sees through it poorly. From forty, mammography becomes the primary screening test, with ultrasound added where density or a finding warrants it. Both are available: breast ultrasound is included in the $259 gynecology package, and bilateral mammography is a $100 add-on to any checkup. Which one suits you is a genuine clinical question rather than a budget one — our 3D mammogram versus ultrasound guide walks through how the choice is made.

Gynecological ultrasound and infection screening

The $259 package adds uterine and adnexal (ovarian) ultrasound and a vaginal discharge analysis alongside the cervical tests. Together these look for structural conditions — fibroids, ovarian cysts, endometrial thickening — and for the common infections that are frequently asymptomatic. This is the package most women over thirty end up booking, because the three additional tests cost far more than the $100 upgrade if bought separately anywhere in the West.

Cardiovascular and metabolic

Cardiovascular disease kills more women than all cancers combined, and the risk curve steepens sharply after menopause. The whole-body packages carry lipid panel, fasting glucose and HbA1c, blood pressure, ECG and abdominal ultrasound as standard; echocardiogram and coronary CT angiography are available where risk factors justify them. If you want to understand what a cardiac workup includes before deciding, see our cardiac checkup guide for foreigners.

Bone, hormones and menopause

Bone loss accelerates in the years around menopause and is silent until a fracture. A DEXA bone density baseline plus thyroid and reproductive hormone panels give you a starting point to measure against. We cover the timing and what the numbers mean in our menopause screening guide for women over 45.

Core labs, imaging and tumour markers

The whole-body packages add full blood count, liver and kidney function, urinalysis, thyroid function, chest CT, abdominal ultrasound and a tumour marker panel. Tumour markers are a supporting signal rather than a diagnosis — they are read alongside imaging by the reporting physician, and an isolated raised marker is a reason to look further, not a result in itself.

The four ways women book with us

Package	Price	What it covers	Best for
Cervical Cancer Screening	$159	HPV genotyping (23 subtypes) + cervical TCT + gynecological exam, female physician, English report	Under 30, or you only need updated cervical data
Women's Gynecology Screening	$259	Everything in the $159 package, plus breast ultrasound, uterine and adnexal ultrasound, vaginal discharge analysis	Most women over 30 — the standard women's-specific screen
Women's Essential (whole body)	$499	30+ tests: full blood panels, liver and kidney function, thyroid, chest CT, abdominal ultrasound, ECG, tumour markers, physical exam	A complete baseline, first visit
Women's Comprehensive (whole body)	$699	Essential plus expanded cancer marker panel, cardiac ultrasound, advanced imaging and additional specialist consultations	40+, or a family history you want properly worked up

Beyond these, a Personalized Screening tier is available at $799 in Beijing and $899 in Shanghai when the plan needs to be built around a specific concern rather than a package. Common add-ons: bilateral mammography, $100 · English-speaking companion, from $100 per half-day · expedited booking within 3 days, $100. If you want the premium hospital route, a checkup at Peking Union Medical College Hospital is $1,499 for the women's comprehensive programme.

Choosing between the $159 and $259 packages is the most common question we get. Our side-by-side breakdown of the two goes through it test by test.

What the same tests cost elsewhere

These are the out-of-pocket figures we publish in our women's package comparison, for women paying without insurance:

Test	US out-of-pocket	UK private	With us
HPV genotyping (23 subtypes)	$80 – $200	£100 – £250	Included, $159
Cervical TCT	$75 – $250	£100 – £300	Included, $159
Gynecologist consultation	$100 – $300	£150 – £350	Included, $159
Breast ultrasound	$150 – $500	£150 – £450	Included, $259
Pelvic ultrasound	$200 – $800	£200 – £600	Included, $259
Vaginal discharge analysis	$80 – $250	£80 – £200	Included, $259

For a whole-body checkup the gap is wider still: a comprehensive screening bought privately in the US commonly runs $3,000 to $8,000, and £1,500 to £3,000+ in the UK, against $499 to $699 here — the figures and the caveats are set out in our Shenzhen checkup price guide and our comparison of the cheapest countries for a full body checkup. Treat any published range as a starting point rather than a quote; what you pay depends on the city, the hospital and the tests actually indicated for you.

Which city — the same package, eight cities

The women's packages are priced the same in every city we cover. What changes with the city is the hospital, not the price — so choose on where you are going to be, not on where the screening is cheapest.

City	Essential	Comprehensive	Personalised
Beijing	$499	$699	$799
Shanghai	$499	$699	$899
Guangzhou	$499	$699	$1,399
Shenzhen	$499	$699	$1,399
Chongqing	$499	$699	$1,399
Xian	$499	$699	$1,399
Hangzhou	$499	$699	$1,399
Chengdu	$499	$699	$1,399

Two practical notes. Beijing and Shanghai have the deepest specialist bench, which matters if a finding needs same-trip follow-up. Shenzhen and Guangzhou are the practical choice from Hong Kong or on a short business trip, because the hospital-to-border or hospital-to-airport time is short enough to keep the whole thing inside one morning. The personalised tier is priced differently by city because it is built around what that hospital can actually schedule in a single visit.

City-by-city detail: Beijing · Shanghai · Guangzhou · Shenzhen · Chengdu · Hangzhou · Chongqing · Xi'an.

How it works, step by step

1. Intake. You complete a short health intake form — age, history, current concerns, preferred city and dates.
2. Plan and quote. A coordinator maps the tests that are actually indicated for you and returns a written quote, normally within 24 hours.
3. Booking. We reserve the hospital slot and send preparation instructions — fasting window, what to bring, what to expect, and whether the timing needs to avoid your menstrual cycle.
4. On the day. The screening itself is done on site in about half a day. A bilingual coordinator meets you at the hospital and stays with you through registration, the tests and the physician consultation.
5. Reports in English. Some results are available on the day; the complete translated report and the physician's written summary are delivered within 1–3 weeks, depending on which tests were included and how long the laboratory and pathology work takes.
6. Follow-up. If something needs a closer look, we arrange the follow-up test or a specialist second opinion — you are not left holding an abnormal result and a phone number.

Coming from Hong Kong? Same-day body check across the border

Many clients cross from Hong Kong to Shenzhen for a same-day body check — the same Grade 3A screening at a fraction of Hong Kong private-clinic prices, minutes from the border. See the Hong Kong–Shenzhen same-day body check guide.

Frequently asked questions

At what age should I start cervical screening?

Cervical (HPV/Pap) screening is generally recommended from age 21–25. In your 30s and 40s it continues, typically every 3–5 years depending on the method used and your previous results.

Do I need a mammogram in my 30s?

For average-risk women, routine mammograms usually begin at 40. In your 30s, breast awareness, clinical examination and ultrasound are the focus; earlier imaging is considered if you have a family history or symptoms.

Which package should I choose — $159 or $259?

The $159 cervical package covers HPV genotyping and TCT. The $259 gynecology package adds breast ultrasound, uterine and adnexal ultrasound, and discharge analysis. Most women over 30 choose the $259 package; under 30 with no symptoms, $159 is usually sufficient.

Are screenings done by female doctors?

Yes — the women's gynecology and breast screenings are performed by female physicians by default. If you would prefer otherwise, tell the coordinator.

How long does the appointment take?

The cervical screening takes 5–10 minutes for collection. The full gynecology package runs 15–20 minutes including the ultrasounds. A whole-body checkup is done on site in about half a day, usually a single morning.

When will I get my report, and will it be in English?

Reports and the physician's summary are provided in English. Some results are available on the day of the checkup; the complete translated report is delivered within 1–3 weeks depending on which tests were included — pathology and laboratory turnaround is what sets the timing.

Do I need to time the checkup around my period?

Yes for the gynecological tests. Cervical collection and pelvic ultrasound are best done outside menstruation, ideally a few days after it ends. Tell the coordinator your dates and the appointment is scheduled around them.

Do I need a referral or insurance?

No. Screening is booked directly and paid out of pocket. If you intend to claim afterwards, tell us before the visit so the paperwork is issued in a form your insurer will accept.

Can I combine a women's screening with a whole-body checkup?

Yes, and most travelling patients do. The $159 or $259 gynecological package is commonly added to a whole-body checkup, or to a gastrointestinal or cardiovascular package in the same visit.

What happens if a result is abnormal?

The reporting physician sets out what the finding means and what the recommended next step is. We arrange follow-up imaging, a specialist consultation or a second opinion in China, and can coordinate with your doctor at home. Screening identifies findings that need investigation — it is not a diagnosis in itself.

Can I book from abroad?

Yes. Complete the intake form, and a coordinator builds the plan around your age and history and returns a quote, normally within 24 hours. Most patients book two to four weeks ahead; expedited booking within three days is available for $100.

Related reading

• From $159 to $259: which women's health checkup package is right for you
• The HPV test you've been putting off — getting it done in China
• Breast cancer screening: 3D mammogram vs ultrasound
• Menopause screening: hormone and bone density testing for women over 45
• Shenzhen health checkup from $399 — 30+ tests in one morning
• Cheapest countries for a full body checkup (2026)
• Health screening in China: full FAQ
• Preventive screening hub · Start your intake

In Shanghai specifically, see English-speaking gynaecologists in Shanghai — clinic types by district, booking, and what the visit costs.

For the side-by-side with the men's pathway, including why the women's package is priced higher, see men's vs women's screening: what actually differs.