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no symptoms
no history of invasive breast cancer (breast cancer that has spread beyond the milk ducts, or lobules); ductal or lobular carcinoma in situ (abnormal cells that are confined to the milk duct, or lobule); or atypia, which is also known as atypical hyperplasia (a form of benign breast disease)
no family history in a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) and no suggestion or evidence of a hereditary syndrome
no history of mantle radiation (a radiation therapy used to treat Hodgkin's disease and some other conditions)

Women at above-average risk:

family history of breast cancer (for example, one first-degree relative - a parent, sibling, or child - who has had breast cancer)
atypia, also known as atypical hyperplasia (a form of benign breast disease), or lobular carcinoma in situ (abnormal cells that are confined to the milk duct, or lobule)
history of having been treated with mantle radiation (a radiation therapy used to treat Hodgkin's disease and some other conditions) before the age of 32

Recommendation of Memorial Sloan Kettering doctors:

The following breast cancer screening guidelines are based on four different levels of risk. They recommend that women in any of these categories perform an optional monthly breast self-examination (BSE) beginning at age 20. They also advise women to be aware of changes in their breasts. If you are at higher-than-average risk for breast cancer, you should discuss with your doctor whether you should have additional screening tests.

If you are at average risk:

annual clinical breast examination (CBE) beginning at age 25
annual mammography beginning at age 40

If you have a family history of breast cancer:

CBE every three to six months starting at the same time as the earliest diagnosis in your family
annual mammography starting no later than ten years before the age of the earliest diagnosis in the family (but not earlier than age 25 and not later than age 40)
consider annual MRI and mammography at alternating six-month intervals

If you have ever been diagnosed with atypical hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in situ:

CBE every three to six months
annual mammography beginning at the time of your diagnosis

If you have had mantle radiation:

CBE every three to six months beginning at the time of your radiation treatment
annual mammography starting eight years after your radiation treatment
consider annual MRI