Are Mammograms Safe During Pregnancy?

At Panhandle Obstetrics and Gynecology in Amarillo, Texas, our seasoned women’s wellness team knows the potentially life-saving importance of having regular preventive mammograms for breast cancer — including during pregnancy. 

Whether you’re due for a routine screening or you’re experiencing concerning symptoms, having a mammogram while pregnant (or later on, while breastfeeding) is safe for both you and your baby. Here’s why you shouldn’t delay this important exam.

Breast cancer, by the numbers 

Breast cancer accounts for one in three new female cancer cases each year in the United States. After skin cancer, it’s the second most common cancer diagnosis among American women, most of whom have a one in eight chance of developing it at some point in life. 

Fortunately, breast cancer mortality rates have gradually declined since 1989, with an overall decrease of 44% through 2022. Why? Mammography makes it possible to detect breast cancer early, in its most treatable stage. 

Pregnancy and breast cancer

While breast cancer during pregnancy is relatively rare, it’s still the most common cancer to be discovered during pregnancy — about 1 in 3,000 pregnant women learn they have it. 

Breast cancers can be harder to find when you’re pregnant because of hormonal changes that alter mammary tissues — your breasts may become larger, denser, lumpier, more tender, or all the above. 

These changes can make it more difficult to notice other, abnormal changes, like a hard lump or unusual skin puckering, until they become more obvious. 

Mammograms during pregnancy

Because many women put off mammogram screenings until after childbirth (and often until after breastfeeding), breast cancers that develop during pregnancy tend to be diagnosed at a later stage; instead of being localized, for example, they’re more likely to have already spread to the lymph nodes. 

Even though the denser breast tissues of pregnancy can make it harder to see early cancer on a mammogram, it’s still vitally important to screen for abnormalities if you:

• Are aged 40 or older and due for your annual mammogram
• Need a follow-up exam to reassess a prior suspicious finding
• Have a high risk of breast cancer and are due for your screening 
• Find an abnormal lump or other concerning breast symptoms

Suspicious changes that warrant investigation include nipple discharge, armpit swelling, persistent breast pain, and skin changes like redness, puckering, or dimpling. 

We can safely check for abnormalities during pregnancy with a clinical breast exam, a screening mammogram, and a breast ultrasound. If an imaging test reveals something suspicious, we can safely biopsy the area to check for cancer cells under a microscope. 

Screening mammogram safety

It’s generally considered safe to have a mammogram during pregnancy. The amount of radiation that’s emitted during the exam is small, and it’s focused directly on the breast that’s being screened in the X-ray machine, so it doesn’t reach other areas of your body. 

As an added precaution during mammogram screening, we drape a lead apron or cape over your entire belly to help ensure radiation won’t reach your womb and affect your baby. 

If we need further imaging, either because your breast tissue is dense, you have a higher risk of breast cancer due to genetics or family history, or you’ve noticed concerning breast changes, we also perform a breast ultrasound. Like a fetal or pelvic ultrasound, this test uses sound waves, not radiation, to generate images. 

In fact, because it’s so safe and easy to conduct, ultrasound imaging is usually the first test to investigate new lumps and other worrisome breast changes when you’re expecting. 

During pregnancy, it’s not safe to have PET scans and CT scans, which are more likely to expose a fetus to radiation. Breast MRI testing is also unsafe for a developing fetus because it requires an injection of contrast dye, which can cross the placenta. 

Expert mammography guidance

If you have concerns about getting a scheduled mammogram during pregnancy, talk with our team — you may be able to postpone a routine screening until after delivery. 

If you notice concerning breast changes, however, it’s very important to have investigative imaging, starting with a breast ultrasound. While it’s perfectly safe to continue preventive screening mammograms while pregnant, we can help you weigh the risks and benefits, so you can make the best decision for your specific situation. 

Do you have questions about mammography during pregnancy? We have answers. Call 806-359-5468 to schedule an appointment at Panhandle Obstetrics and Gynecology today.