Questions

The ones people actually ask, answered plainly. Where it is a medical question we cite the source so you can check us.

Do I really not need a doctor’s order?

For a routine screening mammogram, usually not. Federal law under the Mammography Quality Standards Act allows FDA-certified facilities to screen you without a referring clinician — the facility simply sends your results directly to you. But some states add their own requirement: New York, for example, requires a written order even for screening. Each location on this site tells you which applies, and we will not send you somewhere expecting a walk-in if that location needs paperwork. FDA — Frequently Asked Questions About MQSA ↗

What is the difference between a screening and a diagnostic mammogram?

A screening mammogram is for people with no symptoms — that is what you can book yourself here. A diagnostic mammogram is for when there is something specific to look at: a lump, pain, nipple discharge, a skin change, or a follow-up on a previous result. A diagnostic exam does need a clinician’s order. If you have noticed a change, please see a clinician rather than booking a screening. National Cancer Institute — Mammograms ↗

How often should I go?

It depends whose guidance you follow, and both are reasonable. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends every 2 years from age 40 to 74. The American Cancer Society recommends yearly from 45 to 54, with the option to start yearly at 40. If you have a family history, a known gene variant, dense breasts or prior chest radiation, your schedule may be different — that is a conversation with a clinician. USPSTF — Breast Cancer: Screening (2024) ↗

What does it cost?

Under the Affordable Care Act, most private plans and Medicare cover screening mammography with no copay, no deductible and no coinsurance when you use an in-network facility. Booking yourself also skips the office-visit copay you would pay just to get a referral. What we cannot do is promise your specific plan behaves that way — check with your insurer, and ask the location what they charge if you are paying cash.

How long does the appointment take?

Usually about twenty minutes in total, with the imaging itself taking only a few minutes. That is why we call it express — the appointment was never the slow part. The waiting and the referral were. CDC — About Mammograms ↗

Does it hurt?

Your breast is compressed firmly for a few seconds per image. Most people describe it as uncomfortable rather than painful, and a minority do find it painful. Booking the week after your period, and telling the technologist if you are struggling, both help. It is brief. CDC — About Mammograms ↗

What is breast density and why am I being told about it?

Dense breast tissue looks white on a mammogram — and so do many cancers, which makes them harder to spot. Roughly half of women over 40 have dense breasts, and density is itself a modest risk factor. Since September 2024 the FDA requires every US facility to tell you your density in your results letter. If yours is dense, ask a clinician whether additional imaging makes sense for you. FDA — Understanding Breast Density ↗

Who gets my results?

The facility sends them to you directly, in plain language, and that is a federal requirement. If you give them the name of a clinician, they will send a copy there too. Mammo Express does not receive, store or have access to your images or your results — we schedule, we do not read. FDA — Frequently Asked Questions About MQSA ↗

Is Mammo Express a medical provider?

No. We are a scheduling front door. The imaging is performed by an independent, FDA-certified facility that you choose, and your relationship for the exam itself is with them. We do not provide medical care, we do not give medical advice, and we do not interpret results.

I am a man, or I am transgender or nonbinary. Does this apply to me?

Possibly. Breast cancer is far less common in men but it happens, and screening needs for transgender and nonbinary people depend on hormone use and surgical history. Anyone with breast tissue can be screened. The guidance above is written around the populations it was studied in — if you are outside that, a clinician can tell you what fits.

What happens after I book?

You pick a location and we hand you to that location’s own calendar to choose your time. We keep a note of where you went so we can remind you when you are due again — by default a year later, which you can change or switch off. We will never text you without your explicit consent.

How do I stop the reminders?

Reply STOP to any text, click unsubscribe in any email, or turn reminders off in your account. It takes effect immediately.