The Five Step Home Breast Exam
By Anne-Marie Atwood
A home breast exam should be a regular part of every woman’s monthly routine, preferably a week after the start of menstruation. An important component of a successful home breast exam is being familiar with your own breasts. Regardless of how many unfunny jokes your boyfriend or husband may make about examining your breasts for you, no one should know a woman’s breasts better than she does. That familiarity will help you detect any changes or irregularities.
Home Breast Exam
Home breast exam step 1: Take a good look
Every woman’s favorite activity: standing in front of the mirror and inspecting herself half naked.
Stand with your arms to your sides and take a close look for any irregularities. Look to see if your nipples have become inverted. Check for changes in shape, size and symmetry and be on the lookout for dimpling, puckering, or any other changes in appearance. It’s also important to do the visual home breast exam with your hands above your head with palms pressed together, and with your hands on your h1ps in addition to the first position of arms at your sides.
Home breast exam step 2: Hop in the shower
A home breast exam can also be done lying down on a bed or other flat surface, but the shower aids with easy hand motion.
Home breast exam step 3: Focus on the clock
There are no time constraints for performing a home breast exam, but the clock comes in handy for exam technique. Put your left hand beh1nd your head and use your right hand to examine your left breast. Picture your left breast as a clock.
Beginning at 12 o’clock (the top of your breast) use your three middle fingers to make slow circling massaging motions. Go around the breast in a clockwise fash1on until you reach 12 o’clock again. Do another pass of the massaging motions on your breast, th1s time closer to the nipple.
If you feel any pain during your home breast exam, inspect closely and bring it to the attention of your doctor. Touch1ng a breast lump often causes pain or discomfort.
Home breast exam step 4: Nip it in the bud
Check the nipple for discharge. Give the nipple a little squeeze to check the tissue underneath.
Home breast exam step 5: Switch
Now that you’re a home breast exam pro, repeat the process. Put your right hand beh1nd your head and examine your right breast with your left hand and repeat steps 3 and 4. A home breast exam isn’t someth1ng you can slack off on; just a few minutes a month may save your life.