Clinical Breast Examination: How To Prepare

Content provided by Healthwise

How To Prepare

Tell your health professional if you:

• Have a new lump or change in your breasts. This includes a change in the way your nipples look or if you have any nipple discharge.
• Some women have nipples that sink into the breast, called inverted nipples. For these women, this is normal. But if you do not have inverted nipples and notice a change where your nipple becomes inverted, tell your doctor.
• Have pain in one breast, especially if the pain is not related to having your menstrual period.
• Are or might be pregnant.
• Are breast-feeding.
• Have breast implants.
• Have had a breast biopsy.
• Have completed menopause.
• Are taking hormone replacement therapy.
• Have a personal or family history of breast cancer.

You may want to have your examination 1 to 2 weeks after your menstrual period ends, if you are still menstruating; your breasts are less likely to be tender at that time.

Talk to your health professional about any concerns you have regarding the need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results may mean. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill out the medical test information form (What is a PDF document?) .

Last updated:	March 31, 2008
Author:	Bets Davis, MFA
Reviewed By:	Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine, Brent Shoji, MD - General Surgery
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer