Diagnosis
Many of the women are afraid to have their breasts examined at the hospital. This is normal because breasts are a sensitive part of the womans body. There is no harm in having your breasts examined.
Your doctor will ask you detailed questions about your health history, including questions about your periods and pregnancy history. Questions might include what age you started periods, if you have children and how old you were when your first child was born.Most of the doctors are male and so most women feel uncomfortable having their breasts examined. When a male doctor or any male health practitioner (such as a nurse, clinical officer etc) is examining a woman, theres a female nurse, a female relative or a female doctor around. So, when you are being examined, there will be three people in the examination room.
For the examination, you undress from the waist up. Your doctor or health care provider will look at your breasts for changes in size or shape, and you may be asked to lift your arms over your head, put your hands on your hips or lean forward. He or she will examine your breasts for any skin changes including rashes, dimpling or redness.
As you lay on your back with your arms behind your head, your doctor will examine your breasts with the pads of the fingers to detect lumps or other changes. The area under both arms will also be examined.Your doctor will gently press around your nipple to check for any discharge. If there is discharge, a sample may be collected for examination under a microscope.
Breast exams are best performed soon after yours, because your breasts will not be as painful and swollen as during your period. This makes it easier to detect any unusual changes. If you have stopped periods, schedule the yearly exam on a day that's easy for you to remember, such as your birth date.
