What Is a Mammogram?
A mammogram compresses breast tissue briefly between two plates to capture a clear X-ray image from multiple angles. This compression can feel uncomfortable for a few seconds but is necessary to get a sharp, readable image and to use the lowest possible radiation dose.
When Should I Start Screening?
- Average risk: most guidelines recommend starting between ages 40 and 45, repeated every one to two years
- Higher risk (family history, genetic mutations like BRCA1/2): your doctor may recommend starting earlier, sometimes with additional imaging like breast MRI
Talk with your physician about which schedule fits your personal and family history.
How Should I Prepare?
- Schedule the exam for the week after your period, when breasts are typically less tender
- Avoid deodorant, lotion, or powder on the chest and underarms the day of the exam — these can interfere with the image
- Bring records of prior mammograms if you're being screened somewhere new, so images can be compared
What Happens During the Exam?
The exam itself takes about 15-20 minutes. A technologist positions each breast between two plates for a few seconds per image, usually two views per side. Most people describe brief pressure or discomfort rather than pain. You can typically resume normal activities immediately afterward.
Everything in One Place
If a screening mammogram shows something that needs a closer look, Hospital CMQ can move directly to next steps — additional imaging, ultrasound, or biopsy — with radiology and specialists coordinating in the same building, so you're not left waiting between separate appointments at different clinics.
Schedule your mammogram at our Puerto Vallarta or Riviera Nayarit locations.
References
- American Cancer Society — Mammogram guidelines
- Mayo Clinic — Mammogram overview
- National Cancer Institute (NIH) — Screening mammograms
