The mammogram is a low dose x-ray. Each breast is placed in turn on the x-ray machine and gently but firmly compressed with a clear plate. The compression only lasts a few seconds and does not cause any harm to the breasts. Compression is needed to keep the breast still and to get the clearest picture with the lowest amount of radiation possible. Some women find compression slightly uncomfortable and some feel short-lived pain. Research has shown that, for most women, it is less painful than having a blood test and compares with having blood pressure measured.

Most women we spoke with discussed their experiences of having a mammogram. Women who worked in the health field had known what to expect of the breast x-ray, but others had not known what to expect. Several, who had heard that breast screening was painful or embarrassing, nevertheless attended.

She'd heard breast screening was painful but still attended.

Many women went routinely for screening without worrying about having mammograms. Some were glad to have been invited and were keen to go. Several said they were convinced that no problems would be found as they had no risk factors for breast cancer. 

She explains that going for mammograms is a routine and does not bother her.

Rosemary never worries about going for screening and is very happy with the service.

Some women had felt nervous before their first mammogram. One health professional said she knew what to expect but still felt nervous. 

She felt nervous before going for her first mammogram.

Although she knew what to expect, she still felt nervous before her first mammogram.

Some women, who had lost close friends from breast cancer or had heard about the experiences of friends and neighbours, discussed their fears. For many women, later mammograms became an accepted routine.

She was terrified before her first mammogram and looked for more information.

Shirin has always gone for her three-yearly mammograms but worries about cancer and how it can disrupt peoples' lives.

Delfina didn't know what to expect when she went for her first mammogram and found it uncomfortable. Of subsequent mammograms she said 'there was nothing to it'.

Some women felt embarrassed about having to undress to the waist. Others felt comfortable because the radiographers were women and experts in their field. Many found having a mammogram uncomfortable but not painful. Most women emphasised how quick the process was, so any discomfort was short-lived, and some noted that the benefits outweighed the discomfort (see 'Talking about - Reasons for attending breast screening').

She feels comfortable going for mammograms.

She finds the mammogram uncomfortable, but quick.

For some women having a mammogram caused no pain at all. One of these wondered whether this was because she had small breasts. Another, who found it uncomfortable, wondered if having larger breasts would make mammograms more painful. A few women said the x-ray machine felt cold.

She wondered if having larger breasts would make mammograms more painful.

Some women found the procedure very painful. One woman's breasts hurt for a few days after a mammogram. Another said she'd had bruises. Some women noted that while their first mammograms were painful, subsequent ones varied. Some wondered whether this depended on the radiographer's skill. One woman wondered whether this was because, as she got older, her breasts had become 'softer'. Another person noted that some of her mammograms were more painful than others; she was taking HRT and her breasts were more sensitive during certain times of her menstrual cycle. Some women wondered whether squashing the breasts so much could damage them.

She had painful breasts a few days after a mammogram. (Translated from Cantonese)

She wondered whether her experiences of mammograms depended on the radiographer's skill.

Some mammograms hurt more than others and this depended on her menstrual cycle.

Shirin finds the breast screening unit cosy and homely, but has wondered about mammograms and whether the breasts could get damaged when they are compressed so much.

A few women compared having mammograms with cervical smear tests, and noted that mammograms were much less painful.

Smear tests bother her more than mammograms.