A mammogram is a quick, routine appointment — but a few small preparations can make it more comfortable, more accurate, and less likely to send you back for a repeat. Here’s the simple checklist I give patients, starting with the one rule people are always surprised by.

Hormone therapy (HRT) can make breast tissue a little denser and slightly raises breast-cancer risk the longer it’s used — which makes staying on schedule with your mammograms more important, not less. Menopause itself doesn’t change your eligibility: average-risk women aged 40 to 74 still screen every two years.