What are the physical risks of mammography?

Radiation: The radiation exposure associated with mammography is very low yet not zero. Therefore, it is best to avoid mammograms before age 40 unless there is a strong family history. Most importantly, the benefit of mammography--early breast cancer diagnosis--far outweighs these risks in appropriate women. Mammograms save lives.

Minimal to none: Radiation poses a minuscule risk, however the benefit of mammography is considered well worth this risk in women over age 40 . Rarely a woman can be bruised during compression or, if a woman's skin is thin it can be torn. There have been rare reported cases of implant rupture during mammography.

Mammo risk: Additional cancer risk over baseline due to mammo radiation is approximately 0.0037%. Medical consensus is that the benefit of early cancer detection by mammography significantly outweighs the tiny increased risk due to radiation.