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When you'll be invited for breast screening and who should go

Anyone registered with a GP as female will be invited for NHS breast screening every 3 years between the ages of 50 and 71. You'll get a letter in the post inviting you.

When you'll be invited

You'll automatically get your first invite for breast screening between the ages of 50 and 53. Then you'll be invited every 3 years until you turn 71.

If you're a trans man, trans woman or are non-binary you may be invited automatically, or you may need to talk to your GP surgery or call the local breast screening service to ask for an appointment.

You need to be registered with a GP surgery to be invited for breast screening.

Find out how to register with a GP

Information:

More information for people with a learning disability:

If you have not been sent a letter

If you have not been invited for breast screening by the time you are 53 and think you should have been, contact your local breast screening service.

If you are 71 or over

You will not automatically be invited for breast screening if you are 71 or over.

But you can still have breast screening every 3 years if you want to. You will need to call your local breast screening service to ask for an appointment.

If you're trans or non-binary

If you're a trans man, trans woman or are non-binary how you are invited will depend on the sex you are registered with at a GP:

  • if you're registered as female with a GP you will automatically be invited for breast screening
  • if you're registered as male with a GP you will not automatically be invited for breast screening
What to do if you were assigned female at birth

If you've not had top surgery (surgery to remove the breasts and have male chest reconstruction), you can have breast screening.

If you've had top surgery, you may still have some breast tissue. But it's unlikely you will be able to have a mammogram. Talk to a GP if you notice any changes in your chest tissue or symptoms of breast cancer.

If you think you should have breast screening, but you are not invited automatically, talk to your GP surgery or call the local breast screening service to ask for an appointment.

What to do if you were assigned male at birth

If you've been taking feminising hormones for longer than 2 years, you can have breast screening. These hormones can increase your chance of getting breast cancer.

If you think you should have breast screening, but you are not invited automatically, talk to your GP surgery or call the local breast screening service to ask for an appointment.

If you have symptoms

See a GP if you have any symptom of breast cancer. Even if you have recently had a clear breast screening.

Do not wait for your next breast screening appointment.

Information:

More information for people with a learning disability:

This can help you understand how to check your breasts and when to see a GP.

Page last reviewed: 10 September 2021
Next review due: 10 September 2024