Women's health

Breast health begins with breast awareness — getting a sense of what's typical for you. Being familiar with how your breasts usually feel makes it easier to detect when there's a change. Over time, you'll discover how your breasts change in sensitivity and texture at different times depending on your menstrual cycle, age and other factors.

Concerns about breast lumps, breast pain or nipple discharge are common. When you have questions or concerns, talk to your health care provider. Based on a clinical exam, your provider can talk with you about imaging tests you might need.

It's important to understand the screening tests you may need for early detection of breast cancer. They include:

• Clinical breast exams
• Mammograms
• Breast ultrasounds
• Breast MRI

Dense breast tissue may require additional screening exams. If you have a strong family history of breast cancer or high-risk breast lesions, you may need additional testing with breast MRI.

If you're thinking about breast augmentation or breast reduction surgery, understand the process. Learn about who's a good candidate for surgery, what to expect from the procedure, and possible risks and complications. Talk to your provider about a referral to a plastic surgeon to learn about your options.

• Women's health
• Women's life stages