Your first mammogram may come with a mix of practical questions and uneasy feelings — it’s a type of breast imaging used to check for signs of breast cancer, after all. You may be wondering how to prepare, what the imaging will feel like, how long it will take, and what to expect once the appointment is over.

As with any new test or procedure, not knowing how long each step takes or why some visits take longer than others can make the experience feel more overwhelming than it needs to be. Although each facility can be slightly different, let’s review the standard process for a mammogram so you know what to expect.

How Long Does a Mammogram Take From Start to Finish?

A simple screening mammogram may be over quickly, while a diagnostic visit can take longer.

Screening Mammogram

For a screening mammogram, many people are in and out fairly quickly — anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes, depending on paperwork, history review, breast size, and whether there’s a need for repeat imaging.

Here’s a general timeline for a first screening mammogram:

• Check-in and forms — This can take about five to 10 minutes, though it can take longer if it’s your first visit or if you arrive during a busy time. Some facilities offer online check-in before the appointment.
• Changing and brief prep — This also commonly takes about five to 10 minutes. You’ll undress from the waist up and put on a gown or robe.
• The imaging itself — This usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes.
• Quick image check before you leave — A technologist may review the images to make sure they don’t need to be retaken, which can add a few minutes.

Diagnostic Mammogram

If you’re having a diagnostic mammogram, expect the visit to take longer. Diagnostic mammograms often involve more views and may include a radiologist reviewing images during the visit or recommending a complementary ultrasound the same day.

What Happens Before a Mammogram?

Before your mammogram, the facility may ask about your medical history, including:

• Past breast biopsies
• Surgeries
• Symptoms
• Prior imaging

This short history helps the technologist make sure you get the right exam.

If you still have menstrual periods, scheduling the exam for the week after your period may help, because breasts are often less tender then.

How Should You Prepare for the Appointment?

Make sure to bring your doctor’s information to your mammogram appointment. Even if a referral form from your doctor was already sent over, it is handy to bring a copy with you.

What Should You Wear?

A two-piece outfit is often the easiest choice, since you’ll only need to remove your top and bra. After check-in, you’ll usually change into a front-opening gown or robe.

Don’t wear any jewelry to your appointment. All pieces of jewelry will need to be removed before the imaging, so it might be best to leave them at home.

Also, avoid wearing hygiene products like deodorant, powder, perfume, lotion, or ointment on the chest or underarm area on the day of the test. These products can interfere with the images.

What Happens During Imaging?

During a mammogram, a technologist places one breast at a time on the imaging platform. A plastic paddle presses the breast to spread out the tissue so the images are clearer and easier to read.

For a routine screening mammogram, there are usually two images of each breast, for a total of four standard views. One is a top-to-bottom view (craniocaudal), and one is an angled side view (mediolateral oblique).

How Long Does the Compression Last?

The part many people worry about most is the compression. The pressure can feel slightly uncomfortable, like squeezing or pinching, but it usually lasts only 10 to 15 seconds for each image.

Why Might Imaging Take Longer Than Expected?

Sometimes the technologist needs to repeat an image because part of the breast wasn’t included clearly or there was motion during the image. That doesn’t necessarily mean anything is wrong. It may simply mean the radiologist needs a clearer look before the exam is complete.

What Happens After the Mammogram?

A radiologist reviews the images later for a screening mammogram, or sometimes during the visit if it’s a diagnostic exam. This is a good time to ask how long it will take to get results.

Many people can go right back to their usual day after the test. If your breasts feel a little sore, that’s usually temporary.

When Do Mammogram Results Come Back?

Result timing varies by facility. It can be as quick as about two days or as long as a month. In the United States, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires mammography facilities to send each person an easy-to-understand written summary of the results within 30 days of the mammogram.

If the report is “suspicious” or “highly suggestive of malignancy (cancer),” the facility must give the summary and recommended next steps within seven calendar days of the results being decided.

Why Are Some People Called Back After a Mammogram?

Being called back after a mammogram can be stressful, but it doesn’t necessarily mean cancer. The American Cancer Society says callbacks are fairly common, and fewer than 1 in 10 women who are called back for more testing are found to have cancer.

Callbacks are more common after a first mammogram because there are no earlier images for comparison. They can also happen because:

• The images weren’t clear enough, or not all of the breast tissue showed well, so more pictures are needed.
• The radiologist noticed something that needs a closer look, such as calcifications or a lump that could be a cyst or a solid mass.
• One area of the breast looked different from the surrounding tissue, so follow-up imaging is needed to learn more.

What Happens at a Callback Visit?

A callback visit will generally take longer than the screening visit. That’s because it often includes a diagnostic mammogram, and sometimes a breast ultrasound or MRI.

You’ll likely be given results during the callback visit. Sometimes the extra pictures show that the area is nothing to worry about and you can return to your normal mammogram schedule.

Other times, the radiologist may recommend another scan in about six months to watch an area of concern over time. If cancer is suspected, a breast biopsy may be recommended.

Keep in mind, most cases of abnormal findings on a screening mammogram turn out not to be cancer.

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