If you have ever wondered when to get a mammogram, you are not alone. Recommendations about breast cancer screening have changed over time, and different medical organizations sometimes offer slightly different guidance about when screening should begin and how often mammograms should be performed.
The good news is that today’s recommendations are increasingly aligned around an important message: breast cancer screening should begin earlier than many women may remember. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that women at average risk for breast cancer begin screening mammography at age 40 and continue screening every one to two years.
Why does screening matter? Early detection saves lives. Mammograms can identify breast cancer before a lump can be felt or other symptoms develop, when treatment may be more effective. Understanding your personal risk factors and talking with your healthcare provider can help you determine the screening schedule that is right for you.
What Is a Mammogram and Why Is It Important?
A mammogram is an X-ray image of the breast used to look for breast cancer and other breast changes. Screening mammography is performed before symptoms appear and can find breast cancers that are too small to be felt during a breast exam.
According to the FDA, quality mammography can identify breast cancer during its earliest and most treatable stages. Although mammography involves a small amount of radiation, the benefits of detecting breast cancer early outweigh the risks associated with this low-dose exposure.
Many imaging facilities now offer 3D mammography, also known as digital breast tomosynthesis. Instead of producing only a limited number of two-dimensional images, 3D mammography creates multiple images of breast tissue from different angles. The FDA notes that this technology provides detailed images of breast tissue and may be particularly helpful when evaluating dense breasts.
Regular mammograms do not prevent breast cancer from developing, but they can increase the opportunity to find cancer earlier.
General Guidelines: What Age Should You Start Mammograms?
For most women wondering when to get a mammogram, age 40 is an important milestone.
ACOG recommends that women at average risk have their first mammogram at age 40 and continue screening every one to two years until at least age 75.
You may also see the following age recommendations because they reflect the American Cancer Society’s screening guidelines:
- Ages 40–44: Women have the option to begin annual mammography.
- Ages 45–54: Women should receive a mammogram every year.
- Age 55 and older: Women may transition to mammography every two years or continue annual screening.
- Screening may continue as long as a woman is in good health and has a life expectancy of approximately 10 years or longer.
You may remember older recommendations suggesting that routine screening begin at age 50. Current recommendations have shifted toward screening at age 40 because of evidence supporting earlier screening and increasing breast cancer rates among younger women. ACOG formally updated its guidance in 2024 to recommend that all individuals at average risk begin at age 40.
How Often Should You Get a Mammogram?
For women at average risk, ACOG recommends a mammogram every one to two years starting at age 40.
Whether annual or every-other-year screening is right for you may depend on your age, personal preferences, medical history and individual breast cancer risk. Talk with your ObGyn provider to help weigh the potential benefits and limitations of each screening schedule.
For example, yearly screening may increase the opportunity to detect a rapidly developing cancer sooner, while screening every two years may reduce the number of callbacks, additional testing and false positives a woman experiences over her lifetime.
The important thing is not to skip screening entirely because you are unsure which schedule to follow. Talk with your provider and establish a regular screening plan.
Mammogram Recommendations by Risk Level
Not every woman has the same risk for breast cancer. Knowing your risk can influence when to get a mammogram, how frequently you should be screened and whether additional breast imaging may be appropriate.
Women at Average Risk
A woman is generally considered at average risk when she does not have significant factors that substantially increase her likelihood of developing breast cancer.
For women at average risk, ACOG recommends beginning mammography at age 40 and screening every one to two years. Screening should continue until at least age 75.
Women at Higher Risk
Your provider may recommend earlier or more intensive screening if you have certain risk factors, including:
- A strong family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer
- BRCA1, BRCA2 or another inherited genetic mutation associated with breast cancer
- A personal history of breast cancer
- Previous high-dose radiation treatment to the chest at a young age
- Certain high-risk breast biopsy findings
- A calculated lifetime breast cancer risk high enough to warrant enhanced
