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You might have a lot of questions going into your first mammogram — and we don't blame you. Getting your breasts squeezed by a giant machine is intimidating at best, especially if you've never had a mammogram before. In an effort to ease any pre-appointment anxiety, we're here to answer all your basic mammogram questions. Whether you're curious how the process works, or wondering whether mammograms hurt, we asked experts to help you feel more prepared before your first exam.

First things first: a mammogram is a procedure that takes an X-ray of your breast. Doctors use a mammogram to look for early signs of breast cancer . New guidelines also suggest that women and those assigned female at birth should start getting screened for

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