What Happens at a Woman's First Mammogram?

Before a woman's first mammogram, a doctor will usually advise her not to wear any type of deodorant or jewelry. During the mammogram, a woman is asked to remove all clothing above the waist. A technician will then position her breast on the special x-ray equipment, and she may feel some pressure or discomfort as the machine compresses her breast. During a routine mammogram, there are usually four pictures taken, but more pictures may be taken during a woman's first mammogram.

When a woman gets her first mammogram, her doctor will typically give her a few special instructions. Deodorants and perfumes are not advised because they may contain ingredients that can cause the images to project false signs of breast cancer. Like deodorant and lotions, jewelry can cause problems with the x-ray images. Necklaces, nipple jewelry, and sometimes even earrings may need to be removed before this procedure.

As a woman is waiting to get her first mammogram, an x-ray technician will often ask her several questions. She may need to confirm her name as well as her doctor's name. She will also be asked about her general state of health, including whether she is possibly pregnant or if she has any lumps in her breasts. The technician may also ask if she has breast implants.

One uncomfortable part of a woman's first mammogram involves undressing. This is usually done in a waiting room or dressing room just before the procedure. Any clothing from the waist up must be removed. An x-ray technician will then give a woman a thin hospital gown to wear instead.

Just before the procedure begins, the technician will prepare the woman's breast. This usually involves placing stickers on the woman's nipples and sometimes on any moles that are on the breast. These stickers contain metal balls, which make it easier for these areas to show up in the x-rays.

Another possibly uncomfortable part of a first mammogram usually occurs when the woman's breast is placed into the x-ray machine. This is usually done by the x-ray technician. While this is not usually physically uncomfortable, it can be embarrassing or even humiliating for some women.

The most physically uncomfortable part of a woman's first mammogram usually occurs when the images are being taken. During this time, the machine compresses the breast slightly. The breast is compressed from top to bottom and side to side, which allows the x-ray to capture internal images of the breast better. For some women, this can be painful. Others claim that there is nothing but a mild discomfort.

Two images of each breast are usually captured during a routine mammogram. Technicians may need to capture more images, however, if it is a woman's first mammogram. Additional images may also be needed if a woman has breast implants or if her doctor orders more than four images. This will typically happen when a woman is experiencing breast cancer symptoms.

Even if a woman of a certain age does not exhibit any symptoms of breast cancer, it is still recommended that she gets a mammogram once a year. Typically, the average age for a first mammogram is 40 years old. Women with a family history of breast cancer, however, should get their first screening mammogram at 35 years of age.