Doctor’s Breast Exam

A doctor’s breast exam, also known as clinical breast exam, is the physical examination of the breast performed by a healthcare professional. This professional is trained to recognize any abnormalities and warning signs of your breast. Clinical breast exam plays a crucial role in early detecting of breast cancer. Women should take this in-office exam every one to three years starting at age 20 and once a year when you are 40 and above.

When to prepare for a doctor’s breast exam

Through breast self-exams, you can discover most lumps. However, the intervention of an experienced professional can detect a suspicious place and signs that the patient misses registering. If you have these following conditions, you should inform your doctor to prepare for a breast exam.

• A new lump or change in your breasts such asa change in your nipples look, or any nipple discharge.
• Inverted nipples, the condition which your nipples sink into the breas For women who were bornwith this condition, it is normal. But if this is a recent change of your nipples, tell your doctor.
• Pain in one or both of breasts that is not related to your menstruation.
• Previous breast implants.
• Previous breast biopsy.
• A family history of breast cancer.

The best time for a clinical breast examination is 1 to 2 weeks after your menstruation because during your period, your breasts get tender and swollen.

What happens during a doctor’s breast exam

Before the examination, your healthcare specialist needs information about your medical history including your history of menstruation and pregnancy.

To perform the exam, you have to undress from your waist up. During a clinical breast exam, your healthcare provider checks your breasts’ appearance and looks for changes in size, shape, or symmetry. You may be asked to perform some postures including laying on your back with your arms behind your head, raising your arms over your head, hanging by your hips, and pressing your hands against your hips. These will be helpful for the doctors to find out any differences of the breasts. Also, the breast skin is examined for any signs of rash, dimpling, or other abnormalities. Plus, the healthcare provider will check your nipples by squeezing and pressing them to see whether fluid is building up. If there is discharge, they may collect the sample for microscope examination.

After the examination, you may be instructed on how to carry out a breast self-examination at home and have chance to practice doing it

Normally, clinical breast examination does not make you feel uncomfortable unless your breasts are tender. Moreover, there are no risks when taking a clinical breast examination.

A doctor’s breast exam help to find a lump or change in the breast that may be the signs of a serious problem such as breast cancer. This examination also contributes to the detection of other breast problems that may need more treatment, such as mastitis or a fibroadenoma.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.