Do 40 year old women need to undergo mammography for gynecological examinations?

Whether women over 40 years old need to undergo mammography should be comprehensively evaluated based on individual risk factors. It is generally recommended that women over 40 years old undergo mammography screening every 1-2 years. Mammography is an important means for early screening of breast cancer, especially for middle-aged women with high breast tissue density.

Mammography can clearly display subtle structural changes in the breast through low-dose X-ray imaging, and the detection rate of calcifications is significantly higher than that of ultrasound examination. After the age of 40, female breast tissue gradually becomes fatty, and mammography imaging has better results, which can detect early small lesions. For high-risk groups such as family history of breast cancer and past atypical hyperplasia of breast, doctors may suggest starting screening in advance or shortening the screening interval. During the examination, it is necessary to compress the breasts to obtain clear images, which may cause temporary discomfort but is usually tolerable. If abnormal density shadows or clustered calcifications are found in the examination results, further ultrasound or puncture should be performed to clarify the nature. In some cases, molybdenum target examination may have limitations. Dense breast tissue may reduce the sensitivity of mammography, and in this case, complementary evaluation with ultrasound examination is necessary. Pregnant women should avoid mammography and confirm that they are not pregnant before the examination. For breast implant patients, it is necessary to adjust the examination technical parameters. Before inspection, avoid using skincare products containing metal components such as antiperspirants to prevent interference with image quality. A report can be obtained within 2-3 working days after the examination. BI-RADS classification 1-2 indicates benign findings, 3 requires short-term follow-up, and 4 or more requires pathological diagnosis.

It is recommended that 40 year old women include mammography as a routine physical examination item, complementing clinical palpation and ultrasound examination. Breast self-examination should be conducted monthly in daily life, paying attention to abnormal signals such as breast skin changes and nipple discharge. Regular exercise, weight control and alcohol restriction can help reduce the risk of breast cancer. If suspicious lesions are detected during screening, it is necessary to seek medical attention from a breast specialist in a timely manner to avoid delaying the diagnosis.