Health News Share Email Print Make your next mammogram more comfortable Mammograms are a woman's best chance at detecting breast cancer early, when it's often easier to treat. The screening can be a little uncomfortable. But remember: Your breasts will be compressed for just a few seconds at a time. And the whole test takes only about 20 minutes. These tips can help make it easier to get through. For a more comfortable mammogram Time it right. Avoid the week before or during your period, when breasts may be more sensitive. Ask about padding. Some centers offer pads that can help cushion the breasts. Relax your mind. Try a body scan or a soothing visualization. Breathe through it. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth slowly. Speak up. Tell the person performing your mammogram about any pain. Talk with your provider about your risk for breast cancer and a screening schedule that's right for you. Reviewed 8/18/2023 Sources American Cancer Society. "How to Prepare for a Mammogram." https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/screening-tests-and-early-detection/mammograms/mammograms-what-to-know-before-you-go.html. American Cancer Society. "Recommendations for the Early Detection of Breast Cancer." https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/screening-tests-and-early-detection/american-cancer-society-recommendations-for-the-early-detection-of-breast-cancer.html. Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention. "What is a Mammogram?" https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/basic_info/mammograms.htm. HelpGuide. "Relaxation Techniques for Stress Relief." https://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/relaxation-techniques-for-stress-relief.htm#9/7/2021. Hologic. "Mammopad Breast Cushion." https://www.hologic.com/hologic-products/breast-health-solutions/mammopad-breast-cushion. Related stories Health information main Health tools go Select a health topic ADHD Aging Alcohol use disorder Allergies Alternative medicine Alzheimer's disease Arthritis Asthma Babies Backs Bladder Bones Brain Breast cancer Cancer Cancer prevention Caregiving Cervical cancer Children and parenting Cholesterol Colds Colorectal cancer Coronavirus Dental care Depression Diabetes Disaster preparedness Down syndrome Ears Eating disorders Emergencies End of life/Palliative care Environmental health Epilepsy Eyes Fall prevention Family and relationships Feet Fitness and exercise Flu Food safety Hair Headache Health assessments Health calculators Healthcare Heart attack Heart health Hepatitis Hernia High blood pressure Hips HIV/AIDS Holiday health Hormones Imaging Incontinence Joints Kidneys Knees Leukemia Liver Lung cancer Lungs Medications Men's health Menopause Mental health Multiple sclerosis Nails Nose Nutrition Obesity Oral cancer Ovaries Pain Parkinson's disease Pets Pneumonia Pregnancy Prostate cancer Rehabilitation Reproductive health Safety School health Sexuality Sexually transmitted infections Skin Skin cancer Sleep Smoking Sports injuries Stomach pain Stress and anxiety Stroke Substance use disorder Summer safety Surgery Teen health Throat Thyroid Travel Vaccines Vascular health Violence Vitamins and supplements Weight management Winter health Women's health Workplace health Wound care i Providers Family Medicine Internal Medicine Radiology OB/GYN i Services Breast Center Imaging Services Cancer Center RSS If you have questions or comments, please contact Randolph Health. Problems reading or opening a page? Legal restrictions and terms of use applicable to this site.