According to the United States Preventive Services Task Force, at what age should screening mammography begin for females without risk factors?

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Screening mammography is recommended to begin at age 40 for females without any specific risk factors. This guideline aligns with the recommendations from the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), which recognizes that starting routine mammography at this age can help detect breast cancer early when treatment is most effective.

Mammography is a critical tool in early detection because breast cancer risk increases with age. Starting at age 40 allows for the balance between benefits of early detection and the potential risks of false positives and unnecessary interventions. As women reach age 40, the likelihood of breast cancer increases, and therefore, regular screening is encouraged to identify cancers that may not present symptoms. This age recommendation is especially important for ensuring that women have the opportunity for earlier diagnosis and treatment should cancer develop.

The other age options fall outside the current USPSTF recommendations, as beginning screening any earlier (like at age 35) may not provide significant benefits that outweigh potential harms, and delaying screening until later (like age 45 or 50) could miss the opportunity to detect tumors at earlier, more treatable stages.

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