Generally speaking, I would start at age 40 and do them every year or every other year for screening. For those who have significant family history, I would start at age 35. With the new guidelines and waiting, what happens to all of the 30 and 40 year olds that we may miss? Needless to say, I’ve been a bit of a rebel with these new rules. Now, I say maybe waiting until the early 40s is ok, but I’m definitely not waiting until 50 to screen my patients.
Then, there’s this thing with self-exams. In general, I would teach all women how to examine their own breasts beginning with young adulthood. You would think, “The earlier, the better,” with being comfortable and becoming comfortable with feeling your breasts. However, with the new mammogram guidelines also came the recommendation AGAINST doing self exams. Yes, you read correctly—-against. I don’t feel great about that one either.
My First Mammogram
Thankfully my self exam was normal without any lumps. I asked my friend, who is also an OB/GYN my age, about mammograms and she’s already had her first one. So, I went.
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It wasn’t bad at all! I had the new and improved 3D version, which gives a little less squeeze but does last a little longer. It didn’t hurt at all. For my ladies that have had to wear a really tight bra or for those who have breastfed, this was nothing. The tech that I had was lovely.
I’m sure it makes a difference to have a nice tech to talk you through the procedure and laugh with you a little bit. I asked her what she thought the fear was with getting mammograms, and she said it had a lot to do with a patient’s anxiety level. The more afraid a woman was to get one done or what might be found, the more painful it seemed to be. Sure, I was nervous, too. You never know what you might find in there. However, as far as physical pain goes, it did not hurt.
She also forewarned me that since it was my first one, I would likely be called for a follow up. There was no previous one to compare this one to, so if anything is found, most women get called back after their first mammogram. Fortunately, mine was normal.
Wouldn’t you rather know than not know?
