At what age should women start screening for breast cancer? Well, most women think it’s safe until 50. A new survey found that nearly half of women misunderstand breast cancer screening guidelines.The new survey commissioned by The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC–James) found a significant disconnect between what women believe about mammogram timing and what medical experts actually recommend.Nearly half of women mistake the screening age The new survey found that nearly half of women misunderstand breast cancer screening guidelines, even as experts recommend yearly mammograms beginning at age 40. Most women are unsure when to start mammogram screening for breast cancer and believe they should start later than doctors recommend.“Our biggest concern is ongoing confusion about screening guidelines. For most women, breast cancer screening should begin with annual mammograms at age 40. Clear, accurate information helps women make informed decisions with their clinician and may lead to earlier detection,” Alyssa Cubbison, DO, a breast radiologist at the OSUCCC – James, said in a release.What major guidelines recommendThe confusion around when to start screening continues, even after the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) updated its mammography recommendations in April 2024. They recommend women at average risk get a mammogram screening every other year starting at age 40. However, many medical experts, including the Society of Breast Imaging and the American College of Radiology, recommend annual screening starting at age 40 for average-risk women, a guideline followed by the OSUCCC – James.The new survey also found that many women (51%) believe the screening process should start much earlier, by the age of 35.“Initiating screening mammography before the age of 40 is appropriate in only certain patients deemed to be higher risk based on factors such as family history and genetic mutations,” Cubbison said.In April 2026, the American College of Physicians updated its guidelines and recommended mammography for average‑risk women ages 50 to 74, every two years, citing individualized decision‑making. The OSUCCC – James, however, follows radiology‑focused guidelines of yearly mammograms beginning at the age of 40. Annual screening mammography starting at age 40 is covered under Medicare and most commercial insurance providers, under the Affordable Care Act. The coverage, however, may vary. So, you should check with your insurance provider about specific coverage.Why starting mammograms at 40 mattersAccording to the experts, this confusion is concerning, especially as breast cancer diagnoses in younger women are on the rise. More than 27,000 U.S. women younger than 45 were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s U.S. Cancer Statistics. The number of new cases in this age group increased an average of 0.7% per year from 2001 to 2022, the CDC data shows. As younger women aren’t subjected to routine screening, cancers in this group are often diagnosed in later stages, when treatment options become complex.Why do some women delay mammograms?The survey also found that about half (53%) of the women surveyed delayed or avoided mammograms, beyond the confusion about guidelines, for the following reasons.Cost (28%)Discomfort (26%)Believing they were too young (26 %)Not having symptoms (25%)Concerns about radiation exposure (21%)Younger women: when to talk to a clinicianThe survey also pointed to uncertainty among younger women. One in four women aged 18-29 said they would wait until symptoms such as pain or a lump appear before seeing a doctor. This approach, however, according to experts, can delay diagnosis and treatment.Though most women under age 40 are not eligible for regular screening mammograms, experts encourage younger women, especially those with a personal or family history of breast cancer, to talk with a clinician about their risk. Knowing whether you have dense breast tissue can help. This can raise the risk and also make cancers harder to detect on mammograms. The survey also found that women take follow-up action when they detect dense breast tissue. 60% talked to their primary care doctor or gynecologist. 54% requested additional imaging, such as ultrasound or MRI.“Sharing these findings is meant to correct misconceptions, clarify screening guidance, and encourage women of all ages to talk with their health care providers about when to start mammograms and how to protect their breast health,” Cubbison concluded.

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