best time for a mammogram?

[Rfrancis]

When is the best time of the month to have a mammogram? Is it before, during, after your monthly cycle? And why?
thank you.

[CCF-RN,MSN-JS]

Dear rfrancis, Recommendations from the American Cancer Society do not specify that their is a better time of the menstrual cycle to have a mammogram.  The recommendations are that it is more important to have the screening mammogram scheduled than to try to coincide it with a specific time of the menstrual cycle.  However, if you experience breast discomfort or pain prior to your menstrual cycle, you may want to schedule your mammogram for a different time in your cycle.

[surgeon]

After the period is best: this is because in many women, as the period approaches the breast becomes engorged, making it more dense, and therefore possibly obscuring the view. Not to mention the fact that it's usually less sore after the period, and therefore more comfortable!