Breast Cancer Screening for Women at Average Risk
Mammography is the most effective screening tool used today to find breast cancer in most women. However, the benefits of mammography vary by age.
Learn about mammography for women ages:
Figure 3.1 (below) shows the breast cancer screening recommendations for women at average risk from some major health organizations [2-4].
Talk with your health care provider about the breast cancer screening plan that’s right for you.
Learn about screening recommendations for women at higher risk of breast cancer.
Figure 3.1: Breast cancer screening recommendations for women at average risk
Every year (if a woman chooses to do so) ages 40-44 Every year ages 45-54 Every 2 years (or every year if a woman chooses to do so) starting at age 55, for as long as a woman is in good health |
Every year starting at age 40, for as long as a woman is in good health* |
Every 2 years ages 40-74 |
|
Not recommended |
Every 1-3 years ages 25-39 Every year starting at age 40 |
Not enough evidence to recommend for or against |
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*Mammogram with digital breast tomosynthesis is recommended. |
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Learn more about mammography.
Find questions to ask your health care provider about screening mammography.
Learn more about clinical breast exam.
Click on the topics below to learn more.
Figure 3.1 shows breast cancer screening recommendations for women at average risk.
Why are there different screening mammography recommendations for women ages 40-49?
Regular screening mammography (along with follow-up tests and treatment, if diagnosed) reduces the chance of dying from breast cancer. However, the benefits and risks are not the same for all women.
There are questions related to:
- How much benefit mammography offers
- The overdiagnosis and overtreatment of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and small, slow-growing invasive breast cancers
This has led to different recommendations for when to start getting screening mammograms and how often to have them. Figure 3.1 shows breast cancer screening recommendations for women at average risk.
Komen believes all women should have access to regular screening mammograms when they and their health care providers decide it’s best based on their risk of breast cancer.
Benefits of screening mammography for women ages 40-49
Screening mammography in women ages 40-49 may lower the risk of dying from breast cancer, though the benefit is less than for older women [4,9].
Risks of screening mammography for women ages 40-49
Overdiagnosis and overtreatment are risks of screening mammography. Overdiagnosis and overtreatment occur when a mammogram finds a cancer that never would have caused symptoms or problems if it had never been diagnosed and had been left untreated.
Another drawback of mammography in women ages 40-49 is a high rate of false positive results (when a screening test shows an abnormal finding that may be cancer when in fact, cancer isn’t present) [4,27]. False positive results are more common among younger women than older women [27].
Getting a false positive result means women will be told they have an abnormal finding and undergo follow-up tests. These tests may include a diagnostic mammogram, breast ultrasound or even a biopsy.
Learn more about weighing the benefits and risks of screening mammography, including information on overdiagnosis and overtreatment.
Learn more about follow-up of an abnormal mammogram.
Breast cancer screening recommendations for women ages 40-49
Screening mammography in women ages 40-49 may lower the risk of dying from breast cancer, though the benefit is less than for older women [4,9]. Some major health organizations have concluded the modest potential benefits of screening mammography for women in their 40s may not outweigh the risks of overdiagnosis, overtreatment and false positive results [27].
The American Cancer Society states women ages 40-44 should have the option to have a mammogram every year [2]. It recommends screening mammography every year starting at age 45 [2].
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommends screening mammography for women every year starting at age 40 [3].
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening mammography for women every 2 years starting at age 40 [4].
The American College of Physicians recommends women ages 40-49 talk with their health care providers about their risk of breast cancer and the pros and cons of screening mammography [27]. Then, together, they should make informed decisions about when to start getting mammograms and how often to get screened [27].
Making informed decisions about screening mammography
Informed decisions are guided by a woman’s breast cancer risk profile. Women at higher risk of breast cancer are more likely to benefit from routine screening mammography than other women [2-4,27].
Decisions should also be guided by a woman’s preferences based on the potential benefits and risks of mammography [2-4,27].
Talk with your health care provider about when to start getting mammograms.
Learn more about weighing the benefits and risks of screening mammography, including information on overdiagnosis and overtreatment.
 | For a summary of research studies on mammography in women ages 40-49, visit the Breast Cancer Research Studies section. |
| | For a summary of research studies on digital breast tomosynthesis (3D mammography) for breast cancer screening, visit the Breast Cancer Research Studies section. |
Figure 3.1 shows breast cancer screening recommendations for women at average risk.
Komen believes all women should have access to regular screening mammograms when they and their health care providers decide it’s best based on their risk of breast cancer.
Benefits of screening mammography for women ages 50-69
For women ages 50-69, the benefits of screening mammography are clear. Mammography lowers a woman’s risk of dying from breast cancer. It’s recommended women ages 50-69 have mammograms on a regular basis.
Individual study findings on the benefits of screening mammography vary.
A meta-analysis that combined the results from 6 randomized controlled trials found [28]:
- Women ages 50-59 who got mammograms on a regular basis had a 14% lower risk of dying from breast cancer than women who didn’t get mammograms.
- Women ages 60-69 who got mammograms on a regular basis had a 33% lower risk of dying from breast cancer than women who didn’t get mammograms.
How often should women ages 50-69 get mammograms?
The American Cancer Society recommends screening mammography every year for women ages 50-54 and every 1-2 years for women ages 55 and older [2].
The NCCN recommends screening mammography every year for women ages 50-69 [3].
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening mammography every 2 years for women ages 50-69 [4]. The Task Force reviewed the scientific evidence and concluded mammography every 2 years gives almost as much benefit as mammography every year while reducing risks [4]. These risks include false positive results, overdiagnosis and overtreatment.
If you’re 50-69, talk with your health care provider about how often to get a mammogram.
Learn more about weighing the benefits and risks of screening mammography, including information on overdiagnosis and overtreatment.
| For a summary of research studies on mammography in women ages 50-69, visit the Breast Cancer Research Studies section. |
| | For a summary of research studies on digital breast tomosynthesis (3D mammography) for breast cancer screening, visit the Breast Cancer Research Studies section. |
Figure 3.1 shows breast cancer screening recommendations for women at average risk.
There are few studies (and no randomized controlled trials) on the benefits of screening mammography in women ages 70 and older.
Breast cancer risk increases with age, and mammography doesn’t appear to be less effective in women 70 and older. However, there are risks of mammography in older women, including overdiagnosis and overtreatment.
Screening mammography recommendations for women ages 70 and older
Many major health organizations, including the American Cancer Society, recommend women ages 70 and older continue to get mammograms on a regular basis as long as they’re in good health [2-3,27-28].
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends mammography every 2 years for women ages 70-74 [4]. For women ages 75 and older, the Task Force feels there’s not enough scientific evidence to recommend for or against routine mammography [4].
Komen believes all women should have access to regular screening mammograms as long as they and their health care providers decide it’s best based on their risk of breast cancer.
Making screening mammography decisions
Some women may stop routine breast cancer screening due to poor health. Women who have one or more serious health problems may not benefit enough from having breast cancer found early to justify screening.
However, women who are in good health and could benefit from treatment (if breast cancer were found) should continue to get mammograms.
If you aren’t sure whether you should continue getting mammograms, talk with your health care provider.
Learn about the benefits and risks of screening mammography.
Weighing the benefits and risks of mammography
Although screening mammography saves lives, it has some risks. The benefits and risks of mammography vary by age.
Learn about the benefits and risks of screening mammography.
Updated 03/17/25
This content is regularly reviewed by an expert panel including researchers, practicing clinicians and patient advocates.
