mammograms

[oZma]

OK so being new to having boobs...  do I have to have a doctor look at them on an annual basis? what do I do... where do I look? what do I tell them? I feel overwhelmed! help!

[Devlyn]

Wiki to the rescue! https://www.susans.org/wiki/Mammography

[oZma]

how about peoples personal experience? when/ if you decided to get a doctor after starting hormones or implants?, what you said to them about being trans? are there girls out there who never got a mammogram? is there such thing as a trans friendly dr? any advice would be super!

[Rena-san]

Hi,
You should do self exams once a month. You should have your doctor do a breast exam once a year. Your primary doctor should be able to do this for you. A nurse practioner can also do this. I think I'm a ways off from having a mammogram. But I would imagine you would want one every five years or so. I've read that self-exams usually aren't effective because by the time a cancerous growth is large enough to be felt its a little on the late side. A doctor's exam is a bit better but still not the best. Mammograms are good, but even they have their downsides and inabilities.

Yes there are trans friendly docs out there. My new general practioner is amazing! She even helped me find a new and better endo all the while continuing my current dose script for me. I also know my uncle is a FNP at a clinic in New Mexico and he often treats trans patients. So they are out there. Just find a nice friendly GP and your set. She'll do test for you, exams, answer questions, refer you to others.

[JLT1]

I went on-line and started viewing transgender web sites close to me.  There, I found a list of trans friendly doctors.  Made an appointment, went in, explained everything, confirmed that she would see trans patients and dropped off my medical records.  She is great.

As far as a mammogram.  You are the same as a cis-female and should get one when women start getting them.  Ask you doctor.  Ask how to check our breasts.

As far as getting one, they shouldn't be painful and my first two were fine.  However, if they think they see something, it will turn slightly painful.  To me, it was way cool to see the inside of my breasts and know that they looked just like a any other woman's.  (I'm sometimes strange)