Do mammograms hurt?

[Anonymous]

I was pleasantly surprised to find it wasn't really painful. Awkward, and squeezy, but it didn't really hurt, for me. I'm a C cup, for reference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know where I can get one without a primary care doctor? I happen not have be right now and places will not let me schedule (even though I do not need a referral insurance wise).

Yes I should find a PCP but so many are charging annual fees and I usually go once. It's easier to use Urgent Care

Try Community Radiology. They keep calling me to schedule and I don’t need a doctor’s order.

[Anonymous]

Its my understanding that the pain is less about the size of your breasts, but the density. I have small but dense breasts. Its sore when they smoosh them but I'd rather do that than go to the dentist!

[Anonymous]

I swear to G-d that if men had needed a similar test for their nether appendage they’d have figured out a solution much earlier.

[Anonymous]

It really depends on the person. For me, they can really hurt depending on the time of the month, how the technician handles my breasts, etc.

I have very dense breasts and I feel like they are always adjusting them in the machine to get the image they want. I found relaxing and taking deep breaths can be helpful so your body is less rigid is helpful, a nurse taught me this trick.

[Anonymous]

Yes. It takes only a few minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For me, it hurts like a MF~er and I cry. I have AA boobs so I think it’s just all glands and stuff they are smashing, not fat tissue. I also have dense breast tissue throughout so I always get the note that says it’s basically worthless. And yet I still do it.

Here is the answer I've been hoping for (I'm not OP), thanks! I'm also tiny-boobed and don't really understand how they would have anything to smoosh. I'm 44 and haven't done it yet because I'm scared of exactly what you describe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For me, it hurts like a MF~er and I cry. I have AA boobs so I think it’s just all glands and stuff they are smashing, not fat tissue. I also have dense breast tissue throughout so I always get the note that says it’s basically worthless. And yet I still do it.

It’s not basically worthless. I have extremely dense breast tissue and my breast cancer was caught on a mammogram.

As for pain, I’ve had one or two that hurt, but it was over pretty quickly. Most of the times it’s uncomfortable but easily tolerable. I expect individual experiences vary. I’ve probably had close to 15?

[Anonymous]

No of course not!

[Anonymous]

it is not comfortable. they smack your boob between two plastic sheets and you have to hold your breath.

[Anonymous]

Yes, mine always do. I also feel like the creator of the machine deeply hates women. You’re telling me they couldn’t come up with a better method than completely smashing my breasts in a plastic vice grip?! Could you see men using a plastic vice grip to image their testicles?! GMAFB. They could design something better? Failure of imagination.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For me, it hurts like a MF~er and I cry. I have AA boobs so I think it’s just all glands and stuff they are smashing, not fat tissue. I also have dense breast tissue throughout so I always get the note that says it’s basically worthless. And yet I still do it.

I have white boobs and 100% experience the same thing. It is a form of torture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For me, it hurts like a MF~er and I cry. I have AA boobs so I think it’s just all glands and stuff they are smashing, not fat tissue. I also have dense breast tissue throughout so I always get the note that says it’s basically worthless. And yet I still do it.

It’s not basically worthless. I have extremely dense breast tissue and my breast cancer was caught on a mammogram.

As for pain, I’ve had one or two that hurt, but it was over pretty quickly. Most of the times it’s uncomfortable but easily tolerable. I expect individual experiences vary. I’ve probably had close to 15?

Everyone is different. I have larger breasts and go in every six months and it’s pure torture. And I have serious chronic pain and can tolerate a lot. This puts me in tears.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For me, it hurts like a MF~er and I cry. I have AA boobs so I think it’s just all glands and stuff they are smashing, not fat tissue. I also have dense breast tissue throughout so I always get the note that says it’s basically worthless. And yet I still do it.

I have white boobs and 100% experience the same thing. It is a form of torture.

She was referring to size. AA is a size. Not the color of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For me, it hurts like a MF~er and I cry. I have AA boobs so I think it’s just all glands and stuff they are smashing, not fat tissue. I also have dense breast tissue throughout so I always get the note that says it’s basically worthless. And yet I still do it.

I have white boobs and 100% experience the same thing. It is a form of torture.

She was referring to size. AA is a size. Not the color of them.

Ty for this….i was really trying to understand why PP thought the color of the boobs mattered!