Survey Shows Women Are Confused About When To Start Mammograms

A caller nationalist study reveals galore women are unsure astir erstwhile to commencement mammogram screening for bosom crab and judge they should commencement later than doctors recommend.

The survey, commissioned by The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC–James), recovered that 44% of women incorrectly judge yearly mammograms should commencement astatine property 50. Leading aesculapian organizations urge women astatine mean consequence for bosom crab statesman yearly mammograms astatine property 40.

Our biggest interest is ongoing disorder astir screening guidelines. For astir women, breast crab screening should statesman pinch yearly mammograms astatine property 40. Clear, meticulous accusation helps women make informed decisions pinch their clinician and whitethorn lead to earlier detection."

Alyssa Cubbison, DO, bosom radiologist astatine nan OSUCCC – James

What awesome guidelines recommend

The disorder continues aft nan U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) updated its mammography recommendations successful April 2024. The task unit recommends women astatine mean consequence get a screening mammogram each different twelvemonth starting astatine property 40. But galore aesculapian experts-including nan Society of Breast Imaging and nan American College of Radiology-continue to urge yearly screening starting astatine property 40 for mean consequence women, a line followed by nan OSUCCC – James.

The study besides recovered that galore women judge screening should commencement moreover earlier. More than half of women (51%) said mammograms should beryllium done each year, and 41% judge screening should statesman by property 35.

"Initiating screening mammography earlier nan property of 40 is due successful only definite patients deemed to beryllium higher consequence based connected factors specified arsenic family history and familial mutations," said Cubbison.

In April 2026, nan American College of Physicians updated its guidance to urge mammography for average‑risk women ages 50 to 74 hap each 2 years, citing individualized decision‑making. The OSUCCC – James follows radiology‑focused guidelines recommending yearly mammograms opening astatine property 40. Under nan Affordable Care Act, yearly screening mammography starting astatine property 40 is covered nether Medicare and astir commercialized security providers. Insurance sum whitethorn vary; patients should cheque pinch their security supplier astir circumstantial coverage.

Why starting mammograms astatine 40 matters

Experts opportunity nan disorder is particularly concerning arsenic bosom crab diagnoses successful younger women rise. According to nan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's U.S. Cancer Statistics, much than 27,000 U.S. women younger than 45 were diagnosed pinch bosom cancer successful 2022. CDC information besides show nan number of caller cases successful this property group accrued an mean of 0.7% per twelvemonth from 2001 to 2022. Because younger women are not routinely screened, cancers successful this group are much apt to beryllium recovered astatine a later stage, erstwhile curen tin beryllium much complex.

Why immoderate women hold mammograms

Beyond disorder astir screening guidelines, astir half (53%) of nan women surveyed cited immoderate reported belief aliases logic for delaying aliases avoiding mammograms, including:

• Cost (28%)
• Discomfort (26%)
• Believing they were excessively young (26 %)
• Not having symptoms (25%)
• Concerns astir radiation vulnerability (21%)

Younger women: erstwhile to talk to a clinician

The study besides highlighted uncertainty among younger women. About 1 successful 4 women ages 18 to 29 said they would hold until symptoms specified arsenic symptom aliases a lump look earlier seeing a doctor-an attack experts opportunity tin hold test and treatment.

Most women nether 40 are not eligible for regular screening mammograms. But experts promote younger women-especially those pinch a individual aliases family history of bosom cancer-to talk pinch a clinician astir their risk. Knowing whether you person dense bosom insubstantial tin besides help. Dense bosom insubstantial tin raise consequence and make cancers harder to observe connected mammograms. The study recovered that astir women would return follow-up action if a mammogram showed dense bosom tissue, including talking pinch a superior attraction expert aliases gynecologist (60%) aliases requesting further imaging specified arsenic ultrasound aliases MRI (54%).

"Sharing these findings is meant to correct misconceptions, explain screening guidance and promote women of each ages to talk pinch their wellness attraction providers astir erstwhile to commencement mammograms and really to protect their bosom health," said Cubbison.

To study much astir bosom crab investigation and diligent attraction astatine nan OSUCCC – James, sojourn cancer.osu.edu/breastcancer. The OSUCCC – James besides precocious launched nan Building Research Innovation and Care Delivery for Groups pinch Early-Onset Cancers (BRIDGE) inaugural to support group diagnosed pinch crab astatine a young age.

Survey methodology

This study was conducted by SSRS connected its Opinion Panel Omnibus platform. The SSRS Opinion Panel Omnibus is simply a national, twice-per-month, probability-based survey. Data postulation was conducted from April 2-6, 2026, among a sample of 1,043 female respondents. The study was conducted via web (n=1,014) and telephone (n=29) and administered successful English. The separator of correction for full respondents is +/-3.4 percent points astatine nan 95% assurance level. The Opinion Panel Omnibus information were weighted to correspond nan target organization of U.S. female adults ages 18 aliases older.