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Original poster

NHS mammogram advice - “tell the staff your pronouns”

34 replies

Cantunseeit · 18/03/2026 08:16

FFS why would telling staff your pronouns be relevant to an appointment where you’re physically there with the staff throughout? They never need to use pronouns as you’re right there!

This content was last reviewed in October 2025 so this drivel is still being produced / waved through by the NHS.

It also helpfully points out that ” If you wear a binder, you will need to remove it before having a mammogram.” No shit Sherlock

I’ve just had a mammogram and the patient before me had difficulty standing and didn’t have good English. Her son brought her and he was asked to wait outside to maintain a female only space. The staff were v kind and supportive throughout and went to find her son afterwards to make sure she was OK getting home. I feel that including irrelevant reference to pronouns somehow undermines a great and important service. Women going for a mammogram will have all number of questions and fears but I doubt pronouns are among them.

I might not have thought anything of this once upon a time but today it gives me the rage!

https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/breast-screening-mammogram/what-happens-at-your-breast-screening-appointment/

nhs.uk

What happens at your breast screening appointment

Find out what happens when you have breast screening and what you can do to prepare.

https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/breast-screening-mammogram/what-happens-at-your-breast-screening-appointment/

OP posts:
Floisme · 18/03/2026 08:45

It does add, 'if you would like to' after 'Tell the staff your pronouns', so it's not quite the blanket instruction I took it to be when I read the op.

It reads to me like a ham-fisted attempt to encourage transmen to attend and, if that's the case, I think they should be more direct, e.g.@MarieDeGournays suggestion.

MarieDeGournay · 18/03/2026 08:41

Bagsintheboot · 18/03/2026 08:21

If it encourages women who identify as men to go for a screening I'm all for it. All women's health is important.

Of course it is a good thing for women who ID as men to get screening for the conditions that only women get [or overwhelmingly women in the case of breast cancer - I know some men get cancers in breast tissue].

It's debatable whether the small number of trans IDing women in the UK [probably less than 100,000 in a population of 70million+?] merits special attention at all, but if the NHS thinks they do, I think it would be fair enough to say something concise and easily understood like:
'If you are a woman who IDs as a man, breast screening is important for you too, and you will be treated with respect'

The pronouns/binder references seem coy and unclear to those unfamiliar with trans terminology.

GinaWhoLikesADrink · 18/03/2026 08:40

I'm curious to know how many women of mammogrammable age are wearing binders

Davros · 18/03/2026 08:29

I’m having a mammogram next week. I haven’t noticed this “advice”. I will look closer

soupycustard · 18/03/2026 08:29

The navel-gazing silliness of the pronouns thing is just so irritating.
If you are right there in front of me, I am speaking directly to you and therefore dont need to know about your third person pronouns.
Of course, the whole thing goes way beyond silliness, it being a total misuse of language which has far wider effects.

Bagsintheboot · 18/03/2026 08:27

Helleofabore · 18/03/2026 08:23

“It also helpfully points out that ” If you wear a binder, you will need to remove it before having a mammogram.” No shit Sherlock”

Sadly, I think there is an issue with basic understanding of what the process involves if someone thinks that they can have one wearing a binder. It is an indication that greater education is needed I would suggest.

I was once helpfully informed by a pamphlet that I'd need to remove underwear for a smear test.

Never overestimate the comprehension of the average person on the street.

Annasimon · 18/03/2026 08:23

I'm so fed up. This country is ridiculous

Helleofabore · 18/03/2026 08:23

“It also helpfully points out that ” If you wear a binder, you will need to remove it before having a mammogram.” No shit Sherlock”

Sadly, I think there is an issue with basic understanding of what the process involves if someone thinks that they can have one wearing a binder. It is an indication that greater education is needed I would suggest.

Bagsintheboot · 18/03/2026 08:21

If it encourages women who identify as men to go for a screening I'm all for it. All women's health is important.

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