Mammograms have pros and cons for people in their 40s. Women can handle the nuance
![The most recent recommendation of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is that all women 40 to 74 get mammograms every other year. A previous recommendation said screening should start at 50. One doctor suggests that people "test smarter, not test more."](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3000x1991+0+0/resize/3000x1991!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffc%2F7a%2Fcf0b9e92447ab981bd6a948c79b3%2Fgettyimages-1231329963.jpg)
Guidelines for when women should start getting mammograms have changing. A new study makes the case for explaining to women the risks and benefits of screening for breast cancer.
(Image credit: Heather Charles)
![](https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-5041985)