What is a "mammogram"?

What is a "mammogram"?

Michael Tahery (Obstetrician & Gynecologist) gives expert video advice on: What is my doctor looking for during a breast exam?; Can I do my own breast exam?; How common are abnormal pap smear results? and more...

A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast tissue. During a mammogram they place the breast between two plates, and they try to squeeze it, so they get a thin tissue so x-rays can penetrate it. using a mammogram they can identify if there's any abnormal tissues or lesions inside the breast. A mammogram should be done once a year after the age of 40, in general; but in high risk women, we usually start much earlier, or at 35, we do a baseline mammogram to make sure everything is okay.