should women in their 20s get mammograms?

I am 24yrs old and im just curious should women in their 20s get an annual mammogram? my gynecologist does a breast exam when i go yearly, but is that good enough. i do my own exams, but im sort of a hypochondriac and im not sure and im not sure sometimes if what im feeling is normal breast tissue or something serious.

[gymdandee]

If breast cancer runs in your family mother or father side then talk to your doctor about a mammogram. Otherwise no

[caregiver222]

This involves an exposure to radiation, which can in itself induce malignancies,as well as expose the female ovaries (her eggs) to unnecessary degradation.

The risk/benefit equation suggests it is inappropriate to get a mammogram for a normal female in her 20's.

[Morgy1]

Absolutly...especially if Breast Cancer is prevelant in your family history!  My OBGYN does a 'self check' on me every year with my PAP...I was told that whatever age my grandparent was diagnosed with something serious like cancer, my parent needed to be check 20 years before that and I need to be checked 10 years before them... for example: my grandmother was found to have Colon Cancer at age 68, my mom should have been checked at age 48, and I need to start testing at age 38...make sense?  Its better to be safe than sorry!

[Londres70]

This is ABSOLUTELY not necessary if there is NO history of Breast CA in your IMMEDIATE family or no current breast issues.  

I will have to agree with Caregiver222.  

[minuscule]

Your views are similar to mine. I've wondered why should a woman over 40, without symptoms, need to be expose to radiation. I've been encourage to get mammograms and got two. Now, I wish that I had not because it can only increase a persons' cancer risk. Thanks for pointing this out in your reply to candygram.