A growing body of evidence from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the American Geriatrics Society suggests several common medical tests and treatments offer little benefit-and may even cause harm-for patients over 65.

Here are seven procedures researchers say many older adults can safely skip.

1. Repeat colonoscopies after age 75

The USPSTF rates colon cancer screening a C for adults 76 to 85, meaning the benefit is small. The task force recommends against any screening past 85. A recent study found nearly 7% of patients over 75 had a hospitalization or ER visit within a month of the procedure.

2. Prostate cancer screening after 70

The USPSTF recommends against PSA blood testing for men over 70. False positives are common, and treatment often leads to long-term urinary incontinence (1 in 5 men) and erectile dysfunction (2 in 3 men).

3. Mammograms after 75

The USPSTF takes no position on screening mammograms for women over 75 due to insufficient evidence. The American College of Physicians recommends stopping at 75 for average-risk women, as over-diagnosis can lead to aggressive treatment for slow-growing cancers that may never cause symptoms.

4. Pap smears after 65

Women with a history of normal results can stop cervical cancer screening at 65, per the USPSTF. Cervical cancer rates drop sharply after middle age, and screening in older women mostly turns up false positives.

5. Antibiotics for 'UTIs' with no symptoms

Asymptomatic bacteriuria-bacteria in the urine without symptoms-is common in older adults and usually doesn't require treatment. Treating it breeds antibiotic-resistant bacteria and can cause C. difficile infections.

6. Removing skin spots

Actinic keratoses-reddish-rough patches from sun exposure-are common in older adults. Most do not progress to skin cancer, and removing all of them costs money, can scar, and may need to be repeated.

7. Lifetime thyroid medication you might not need

Many older adults on levothyroxine for borderline results (subclinical hypothyroidism) see no symptom improvement. One study found about a quarter could discontinue the drug entirely after gradual tapering.

The bottom line

Patients should always ask: What happens if we don't do this? Is the benefit big enough to outweigh the risks at my age? Saying no to the wrong test isn't being a bad patient-it's being a smart one.