The day of your mammogram you’ll want to dress comfortably in loose-fitting clothing (you may be asked to exchange this for an exam gown), and you should also avoid deodorants, lotions, or powders on your chest or underarms, as these can interfere with the imaging.

A technologist will position your breast on a flat X-ray plate. The machine will lower a second plate to compress the breast tissue, spreading it out as much as possible for a clearer image. X-rays will be taken from different angles. Each breast is typically imaged twice (top-to-bottom and side-to-side).

During a mammogram, your breast is compressed between two plates, which feels like firm pressure or squeezing. It can be uncomfortable or mildly painful but lasts only a few seconds per image. The discomfort is generally brief and tolerable– plus there are things you can do to minimize the pain.

There’s a lot of debate out there of when to start getting regular mammograms. Some advocate for as early as 40, while others say it’s not needed until 50 unless you have certain risk factors. Our advice? Talk to your doctor about your specific case, and once you start, make sure you get you a mammogram every year as recommended to make sure you catch anything early.