From the Guidelines
Breastfeeding women can generally still have a mammogram, and it is recommended to inform the mammography facility about breastfeeding when scheduling the appointment. When scheduling a mammogram, it's best to do so right after nursing your baby, when your breasts are as empty as possible, to minimize discomfort during the procedure 1. You can breastfeed immediately before the mammogram and resume breastfeeding immediately afterward. The compression during the mammogram will not harm your milk ducts or affect your milk supply.
Key Considerations
- While mammograms are safe during lactation, the results may be more difficult to interpret due to increased breast density from milk production, which can make it harder to detect abnormalities 1.
- In some cases, your doctor might recommend additional imaging such as ultrasound to complement the mammogram.
- If you're concerned about a specific breast issue, don't delay seeking evaluation even while breastfeeding, as diagnostic mammograms can still provide valuable information despite the challenges of interpreting lactating breast tissue.
Recommendations
- Inform the mammography facility about breastfeeding when scheduling the appointment.
- Schedule the mammogram for right after you have nursed your baby, when your breasts are as empty as possible.
- Breastfeed immediately before the mammogram and resume breastfeeding immediately afterward.
- Be aware that additional imaging may be recommended to complement the mammogram.
The most recent and highest quality study, published in 2018, supports the safety and feasibility of mammograms during lactation, with minor modifications to address increased mammographic density, increased breast vascularity, and duration of lactation 1.
From the Research
Breastfeeding and Mammography
- There is no direct evidence in the provided studies that discusses the need for mammograms specifically for breastfeeding women.
- However, the studies do discuss the importance of breast cancer screening and the effectiveness of different screening methods, such as mammography, ultrasound, and MRI, in detecting breast cancer 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Breast Density and Screening
- Breast density is a significant factor in breast cancer screening, as it can affect the sensitivity and specificity of mammography 3, 4, 5.
- Women with dense breasts may benefit from supplemental screening methods, such as ultrasound or MRI, in addition to mammography 3, 4, 5, 6.
- The studies suggest that MRI is a highly sensitive method for detecting breast cancer, particularly in women with dense breasts or those at high risk of breast cancer 2, 5, 6.
Screening Methods
- The studies compare the diagnostic performance of different screening methods, including mammography, ultrasound, and MRI, in detecting breast cancer 2, 4, 5, 6.
- The results suggest that combining multiple screening methods can increase diagnostic accuracy and detect more breast cancers than using a single method alone 2, 4, 5, 6.