The Newest Breast Self-Exam Recommendation (You'll Want to ...

How often do you perform breast self-exams? Once a month, right, because that's what experts have recommended? Well, there's a new recommendation in town--straight from Planned Parenthood, which is aiming to educate women under the age of 40 about breast cancer.

According to Planned Parenthood, research shows that there's no benefit to performing once-a-month self-exams. Instead, the organization suggests you practice continual breast self-awareness, which doesn't include a specific technique or frequency. It's more like keeping an eye on how your breasts look and feel; checking them out in the mirror and feeling them from time to time. Planned Parenthood says that this will help you notice any changes--so you can have them checked out by a health care provider more quickly than you might have otherwise.

What kinds of changes should you be aware of--and what should you do? Planned Parenthood recently released the new video, above, that is well worth the minute and a half to watch it. But here's a quick rundown:

* If you notice lumps, redness, swelling, puckering, breast pain or discharge from your nipple, see your doctor. It's entirely possible these symptoms could be something else--cysts, infections, injuries, or just your breasts changing (because breasts do change throughout your life!). Still, it's good to get the all-clear from a doc or nurse/nurse practitioner.

* If your doctor does clinical breast exam, that's a good thing: Planned Parenthood reports that's the best method for screening young women.

* Planned Parenthood and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend a clinical breast exam as part of a well-woman exam every 1 to 3 years for women ages 20 to 39, and every year for women 40 and over. If you have a family history of breast cancer or other medical conditions, you might need more frequent exams.

Would you say you're pretty attuned to how your breasts look and feel? Do you perform regular self-exams, or do you already do a time-to-time-but-unscheduled check-in with your breasts?

More on breast cancer:
* 10 Ways to Blast First-Time Mammogram Stress
* 7 Things No One Ever Tells You About Breast Cancer
* Author Judy Blume Has Breast Cancer, Writes About Experience in a Way Everyone Can Relate

Photo: Thinkstock; Video: Planned Parenthood

Source: http://www.glamour.com/health-fitness/blogs/vitamin-g/2012/10/the-newest-breast-self-exam-re.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+glamour/vitamin-g+(Glamour:+Vitamin+G)

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