INTRODUCTION: Mammography is the most important method for early detection of breast cancer, however, patients frequently complain of discomfort and pain. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate how often discomfort and pain are felt during mammography and identify factors that may be associated to these complaints. METHODS: A prospective study including 2,164 patients recruited from public (996) and private (1,168) health services was carried out. After the imaging procedure, patients quantified pain using a linear analogical scale. Discomfort was qualitatively evaluated by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Discomfort was reported by 90% of the patients, and of these 12% rated the sensation as intense or intolerable. Only 2% of the women in the study group did not feel any pain during the procedure. Factors associated to pain were: age, use of birth control methods (BCM), previous mastalgia and patients from the private health sector. Discomfort was independently associated to the service where the procedure was performed (OR = 2.50 IC 1.64-5.17) and to previous mastalgia (OR = 3.15 IC 1.96-7.12). When asked about a repeat mammography, 98% of the patients said they would comply. CONCLUSION: Young women (< 50 years), BCM users, mastalgia patients and women who were using the services of a private clinic felt more intense pain and discomfort during mammography.
Breast; Mammography; Cancer; Screening; Pain; Discomfort
