Yes, your OBGYN will check your breasts during your annual Well Woman exam. A breast cancer check-up is a routine part of that visit. And it’s a good reason not to skip your appointment.
In this article, you’ll find two practical guides. One to explain how your OBGYN does a breast cancer check-up and what happens afterwards.
And the second to help you be aware of your own breasts in the months between each of your annual health check-ups. That’s an equally important part of “next.”
Do OBGYNs Do Breast Exams? Yes, and This is How
Your gynecologist calls this the Clinical Breast Exam (CBE) – part of an annual exam for women.
Studies indicate that a CBE by an OBGYN is more effective than one done by a mid-level provider.
So, if you want to be proactive in looking after your breast health, search for OBGYN near me or OBGYN Dallas and make that appointment. At Stella Mattina, we offer same-day appointments to suit your lifestyle.
What is a Clinical Breast Exam?
Screening tests for breast cancer involve a thorough check of your breast health. During a breast cancer check-up, or CBE, your OBGYN will carry out three checks:
1 Take a health history
They’ll ask you about any symptoms you’ve noticed, your medical history, or a family history of breast problems.
Symptoms might include any tenderness or a leakage from a nipple. But mostly, regular breast cancer check-ups happen before you notice any physical symptoms.
You can help them in this part of the exam by taking along a note of information you want to remember. Especially about your health history or family experience of breast cancer.
2 Visually inspect your breasts
Your gynecologist is checking for any changes in size or shape, puckers, dimples, redness, or rashes.
3 Manually examine your breasts
This is the part some women feel a little self-conscious about. But your OBGYN is expert and professional when manually checking for any lumps, thickening, or changes in each breast.
They will feel under each arm and up to your collarbone using the flat part of their fingers.
Your OBGYN will then discuss what they consider normal breast changes and help you understand how to be “breast aware” so you can take note of any unusual changes yourself on a monthly basis.
Like we said, this is a routine you can start at home. You might want to pin a reminder in your calendar. Regular checks mean you can find any possible problems before they become untreatable.
Most breast cancers (75%) are found by self-examination, even among women who have regular mammography, so we recommend you do a regular self-exam.
Now, before we give you our guide on how to check your breasts yourself, let’s look at what happens next after the breast cancer check-up at your OBGYN visit.
What Happens Next If You Have an Abnormal Finding?
Most abnormal findings are benign (not cancer). But follow-up is essential for a definitive diagnosis.
If your OBGYN finds something suspicious, they’ll likely refer you to a specialist breast clinic for a triple assessment, which can take several hours in one visit:
- Clinical breast examination: A specialist doctor or nurse will perform another physical exam.
- Imaging tests:
- Diagnostic mammogram: This is a more detailed low-dose breast X-ray of the specific area of concern.
- Breast ultrasound: This test uses sound waves to determine if a lump is a fluid-filled cyst (usually benign) or a solid mass (which might need further testing).
- Breast MRI: This exam may be used in some cases, particularly if you’re a high-risk woman or if findings are unclear on other imaging.
- Biopsy: If the mass appears suspicious, a small sample of cells or tissue will be removed, usually with a needle and local anesthetic. A pathologist examines this tissue under a microscope to check for cancer cells. This is the only way to confirm a cancer diagnosis.
Both dense tissue and tumors may look similar on scans – so please don’t assume the worst! The results of your biopsy generally take about a week to process.
Now let’s answer that question about what happens next in more detail.
If you receive a diagnosis of breast cancer, you’ll be in good hands. A multidisciplinary team will work with you to determine the stage of the cancer and develop a treatment plan. This may include surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy:
Surgery removes as much of the cancer as possible, helping prevent it from spreading.
Chemotherapy targets cancer cells throughout the breasts and lymph nodes to eliminate them.
Radiation therapy aims to destroy any remaining cancer cells in a specific area.
What Happens Next: Breast Cancer Check-up at Home
As we mentioned, it’s important to become aware of what your breasts look and feel like month by month.
If you do a breast cancer check-up regularly, you’ll notice changes – and changes are what matter most.
Here’s how to check:
Monthly Breast Cancer Check-ups at Home: What to Look For
Look at your breasts in a mirror, checking they’re the usual size and color, and whether there are dimples or puckers, or if a nipple has changed position.
Raise your arms and check again for the same things.
Note if there are signs of any leakage from your nipples – fluid or blood.
Lie down and feel for any breast lumps. Use your alternate hand for each side, and keep your fingers flat while they move around, feeling in this way. Cover a large area right up to your collarbone.
Then repeat this for each side while standing with your arm up.
If you’re concerned about anything you see or feel during the months after your OBGYN check-up, don’t hesitate to visit your healthcare provider and ask for a clinical breast exam.
Stella Mattina OBGYNs Do Breast Cancer Check-ups at a Location Near You
We’re passionate about expert healthcare for women that you can access at a time that suits you. Same-day appointments are available for our gynecologists to check breasts and guide you through any next steps that are necessary.
If you’re due an annual OBGYN check-up or have any concerns about your breast health, book an appointment now.
Dr. Gonzalo Venegas
Gonzalo Venegas, MD is the Medical Director of Stella Mattina Health and a respected obstetrician-gynecologist with over four decades of service in the Dallas medical community. He has led the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Methodist Dallas Medical Center and contributed to community health through his role on the Parkland Health & Hospital System Board. A dedicated mentor at UT Southwestern, Dr. Venegas is known for his leadership, compassion, and commitment to advancing women’s health and medical education.