Getting ready
Two minutes of preparation makes the appointment quicker and a good deal more comfortable. Everything here comes from the CDC, FDA and National Cancer Institute — with the links.
- 1
Skip deodorant, perfume and powder that morning
Don’t wear deodorant, perfume or powder on the day of your appointment. These can show up as white spots on the X-ray and can mean repeating images. Bring your deodorant and put it on afterwards — most locations expect it.
CDC — About Mammograms ↗ - 2
Time it away from your period if you can
Breasts are often more tender the week before and during your period. If you still have periods, booking the week after usually makes the exam more comfortable. If that is not practical, it is far better to go than to wait.
CDC — About Mammograms ↗ - 3
Wear a two-piece outfit
You undress from the waist up, so a top with trousers or a skirt is easier than a dress. Many locations give you a gown that opens at the front.
CDC — About Mammograms ↗ - 4
Bring or forward your previous images
If you have had a mammogram somewhere else, ask that facility to send the images to your new location beforehand. Comparing this year against last year is one of the most useful things a radiologist can do.
National Cancer Institute — Mammograms ↗ - 5
Tell the technologist what is going on
Say if you have breast implants, are breastfeeding, might be pregnant, have had surgery, or have noticed a lump or change. It changes how the images are taken — and a new lump or change means you need a diagnostic exam, not a screening one.
National Cancer Institute — Mammograms ↗ - 6
Know what it feels like
Your breast is pressed firmly between two plates for a few seconds while the image is taken. Most people find it uncomfortable; some find it painful. It is over quickly — the whole appointment is usually around twenty minutes.
CDC — About Mammograms ↗ - 7
Expect a letter — including your breast density
You will get your results in plain language. Since September 2024 the FDA requires every facility in the US to tell you whether your breasts are dense. About half of women over 40 have dense tissue, which can hide cancers on a mammogram and is itself a risk factor. It is information, not alarm — discuss it with a clinician.
FDA — breast density reporting rule (effective 10 Sep 2024) ↗
If you have noticed a change
A lump, pain, discharge, or a change in the skin or nipple means you need a diagnostic mammogram rather than a screening one — and that does need a clinician’s order. Please contact a clinician. It is not a reason to panic, and it is a reason not to wait.
After: your results letter
The facility sends your results directly to you in plain language — that is a federal requirement, not a courtesy. Since 10 September 2024 the letter must also tell you whether your breasts are dense.
What dense breasts actually mean →