What to Expect at Your Mammography & Breast Imaging Appointments

Preparing for a breast imaging appointment can feel overwhelming, but knowing what to expect can help ease any anxiety. This guide provides detailed information on what to expect during digital and 3D mammography, breast ultrasound, and breast MRI procedures, at our Oklahoma City metro locations, mobile mammography units, and in Edmond, ensuring you feel informed and comfortable.

What to Expect with Digital & 3D Mammography

To help minimize discomfort during your exam, schedule your mammogram during the two weeks following your menstrual cycle, when breasts are less tender.

• Bring a disc or films from any previous mammograms done at a facility other than an OU Health breast imaging location.
• Please do not wear deodorant or powders to your mammography appointment.

During Your Appointment

• In a private dressing room, you’ll undress from the waist up and use a gown that opens in the front.
• Your technologist asks questions to better understand your history and/or any problems you may have.
• In the mammogram room, your technologist positions you at the scanning device, which compresses your breast to allow the low-dose X-ray to penetrate the tissue.
• With 3D digital mammography, the scanning device rotates around the breast, taking multiple views from various angles to create an image.

After your scan, you return to the dressing room and can continue with regular daily activities.

What to Expect with Breast Ultrasound

You don’t need any special preparation before a breast ultrasound. During your 15- to 30- minute appointment, expect the following:

• In a private dressing room, you’ll undress from the waist up and use a gown that opens in the front.
• Your technologist asks questions to better understand your history and/or any problems you may have.
• You’ll lie down on a table and an application of hypoallergenic, water-soluble gel on your breast allows the ultrasound to travel through skin.
• A small probe passes over the breast surface, creating a painless sensation of light pressure, and images appear on the ultrasound screen.

After the test, the technologist removes the gel, you return to your dressing room and you can carry on with your regular activities. Before you leave, you will discuss your results with an OU Health imaging specialist or doctor.

What to Expect with Breast MRI

Bring all previous imaging items or information about access to films, pathology reports, mammograms, ultrasounds and MRIs from other breast imaging facilities. If your doctor prescribed claustrophobia medication to take before your procedure, make arrangements for someone to bring you to the OU Health breast imaging location and take you home. Notify the facility ahead of time if you have any implantable devices.

Arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time and plan for the process to take about an hour or less.

• Eat as usual, but remember you’ll lie face down for the entire scan.
• Take all medications as prescribed.
• Remove all jewelry/body piercings before the MRI.

During Your Exam – Approximately 15-30 minutes

• In a private dressing room, you’ll change into a gown and remove all metallic objects such as jewelry, body piercings, glasses, hairpins and removable dentures. Anything that contains metal may distort MRI signals.
• The MRI technologist helps position you on your stomach with breasts placed through two openings on the contoured MRI table.
• You get earplugs to help block the machine noise.
• Depending on your specific situation, you may receive a contrast-enhancing agent midway through the scan to help highlight various structures in the breast tissue.

After your test, you can return to your day’s activities or have someone take you home.