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Original poster

AIBU to expect a gown and privacy during an early mammogram?

208 replies

Cranberry2020 · 14/03/2026 18:29

Today I attended for my first mammogram under the screening age due to family history.
i was called and the radiographer didn’t introduce herself. Inside the room she just asked me to undress to waist and started asking me questions. I wasn’t offered a gown etc and I got down to bra and felt cold. I requested a gown for dignity and she said they don’t have them here. That’s the machine is only over there. I felt uncomfortable and tried to ask again. She denied one. She then said she needed to get someone else in and went and got the receptionist who was an older lady. The radiographer then gaslit me by telling the receptionist how unreasonable I was asking for a gown etc. that the receptionist had to hear two sides but then didn’t let me speak. I was still in my bra and now the door to the corridor was open. The receptionist told me if I’d wanted a gown I should have mentioned it earlier. I left the wrong way and came back and heard they were still talking about me negatively. I then found a nurse and explained by now generally upset. The consultant appeared and said that it’s down to perceived communication which I couldn’t accept completely as I really asked nicely for a gown and explained why. She also said that if I left now I’d have to ‘wait a long time for another one’. I’ve been left reeling. I have other long term conditions and do have some medical PTSD. I’ve had lots of healthcare interactions including a recent internal gynae scan yet I felt fully cared for and treated with dignity and respect. AIBU? Thanks

OP posts:
IsThisLifeNow · 14/03/2026 18:31

That sounds awful, can you complain to pals? I'd hate that

Hobsonschoiceofhob · 14/03/2026 18:33

Firstly I’m sorry you felt this way and have sons trauma due to medical experiences prior. I do t think you’re being unreasonable to want a gown but also o don’t think they’re being unreasonable for not offering them if, like when I had mine, I took my top off right next to the machine and put it directly back on. One other time when I had a full load of tests I DID get a gown as I was moving from different rooms to new machines.
I hope you can put this behind you and get a new appointment and maybe wear a shirt and easy off bra that cause you minimal top half naked time. And I hope you’re ok

TulipCat · 14/03/2026 18:34

I have been having mammograms annually for over a decade. At the hospital I go to, the set up is like this, pretty normal. I can't remember anyone ever introducing themselves, they crack straight on with strip to waist and start the procedure. You can't wear a gown while they're doing it, it's easier if you are just naked from the waist up.

It sounds unprofessional of them to be discussing you though.

Esperanza25 · 14/03/2026 18:36

That is awful. Please do complain to PALS as PP has suggested. It’s important that you attend for screening again, this could put you off which would be terrible.

Original poster
Cranberry2020 · 14/03/2026 18:36

Hobsonschoiceofhob · 14/03/2026 18:33

Firstly I’m sorry you felt this way and have sons trauma due to medical experiences prior. I do t think you’re being unreasonable to want a gown but also o don’t think they’re being unreasonable for not offering them if, like when I had mine, I took my top off right next to the machine and put it directly back on. One other time when I had a full load of tests I DID get a gown as I was moving from different rooms to new machines.
I hope you can put this behind you and get a new appointment and maybe wear a shirt and easy off bra that cause you minimal top half naked time. And I hope you’re ok

Thanks the weird thing is I said I’d wear my bra then to the machine and take it off there. And she said you can but then you’d have to walk back over to the other side of the room and put it on the chair anyway. I said, can’t I just hold it?

OP posts:
Needlenardlenoo · 14/03/2026 18:44

I'm sorry you had this experience.

I think that operatives who do these tests (well it's common across the health service tbh).forget that they may do dozens of these tests a day, maybe hundreds a week, but for the poor bloody patient it's often the first time!

I greatly disliked my first one and when I got to the second I kind of froze and couldn't go through with it. I eventually booked a private one reasoning they wouldn't be so rushed and it wouldn't involve a portacabin in a car park.

I was given a gown all three times though. Not unreasonable at all!

alittlequinnie · 14/03/2026 18:46

I've been to two now OP. The first one was a bit like this - and I ended up going "room" to "room" in the mobile unit topless - cupping my own boobs! I was mortified!

The two people in the unit were very young too and not amused with me - and the technician really hurt me.

I felt traumatised and didn't go again for 7 years!

However, I went again a few weeks ago. This time I knew what I was doing a bit more. I wore a button up shirt so I was able to leave it on to go from the changing room to the machine - and I left it on the whole time which made me feel a bit better.

I also told the technician that it really hurt last time and she said she would use less pressure as she could tell my breasts were very firm. It was a much much better experience and I won't be put off going again I don't think.

You'll get hundreds of people on here telling you you shouldn't care and they have seen it all before etc but you know what we are all different and we can't help feeling what we feel!

WeAreNotOk · 14/03/2026 18:47

Every time I've had one you go into a double doored cubicle to undress and then walk out the other door into the mammogram area. There's no need for a gown, in my opinion.

Original poster
Cranberry2020 · 14/03/2026 18:48

WeAreNotOk · 14/03/2026 18:47

Every time I've had one you go into a double doored cubicle to undress and then walk out the other door into the mammogram area. There's no need for a gown, in my opinion.

No cubicle

OP posts:
AsparagusSeason · 14/03/2026 18:51

At my last mammogram (in a mobile unit in a car park), I was ushered into a cubicle. Told to strip off my top half and then hold up what was basically a sheet of paper against my chest while I walked along the corridor to the scanner.

There wasn’t a moment of kindness or dignity. And it hurt and the technician was horrible.

Notmymarmosets · 14/03/2026 18:55

I've never been offered a gown. They go through the questions as I get undressed and then we just get on with it. They do hundreds each day. Can you imagine the laundry?

Needlenardlenoo · 14/03/2026 18:55

I found it was better the second time but then the people were much nicer. It's amazing what a difference that makes.

Those machines are chuffing terrifying and I say that as someone who's had lots of surgery and smears and mirenas and a c section.

TeenToTwenties · 14/03/2026 19:00

You can't really hold anything as at times you need to put your arms in funny positions so they can get the pictures you want.

I think the problem with all of this is you weren't given info as to what to expect upfront so your expectations were skewed compared with what happens.

I go to a mobile unit. You undress in a cubicle but then are naked waist up in the room with the nurse. I don't think wearing a gown would 'work' with how the mammograms are done.

Try to go back. Flowers

Original poster
Cranberry2020 · 14/03/2026 19:01

Notmymarmosets · 14/03/2026 18:55

I've never been offered a gown. They go through the questions as I get undressed and then we just get on with it. They do hundreds each day. Can you imagine the laundry?

But I think one should be possible if someone asks. I’m not suggesting they should necessarily offer to all? But to be refused on requesting…

OP posts:
MangoesIntoAPube · 14/03/2026 19:06

They handled it badly. I'm not surprised they didn't have a gown though- I've always just taken my top and bra off in the room with the machine. I don't think a gown would really help as you'd have to take it off as soon as you put it on- it wouldn't achieve anything.

searchforthesun · 14/03/2026 19:11

It’s a quick procedure, there is no need for a gown, you would have had it on for seconds so it wouldn’t have stopped you feeling cold.
They are so busy you are just a number. Get the scan done and you’ll never see them again.
please don’t complain there are bigger things going on in the world, move on.

kiwiane · 14/03/2026 19:15

I find it well set up; there’s no need for a gown as you go directly into the room for the mammogram. If you would prefer not to be screened that’s your choice but it’s unreasonable to expect all healthcare to be organised to your own preference.

Sunshineandgrapefruit · 14/03/2026 19:19

I go every year because of family history op. I have never been offered a gown. It's very much strip off, get next to machine, get handled on , get scanned, get dressed, get out. It's not a dignifi we d procedure and I don't think there is need for a gown as you need to have boobs out so to speak. Having said that if you were not comfortable they should have made an exception. Next time take a poncho or something but after a few you'll get used to it.

7238SM · 14/03/2026 19:21

I'm sorry you had that experience OP. I'm a health professional and cannot abide others that don't introduce themselves. 'Good afternoon, I'm Jane and I'm the radiographer doing your scan today' etc. For all you know, they might be the cleaner!

I had a mammogram in my early 40's due to feeling a lump- all was well. Not once did they ask if I could be pregnant. I'd been having IVF and knew I wasn't, but other woman might not be aware and for a radiographer, I thought this was a first question to ask!

After I'd seen the consultant, I was told I could get dressed. The health care worker stayed behind the curtain with me whilst I dressed. I told her I was fine to dress myself and she didn't need to stay, but she just stood there watching me get the gel off my boob, put my bra and clothes on- very odd!

I would write out a factual, to the point, account of why you felt uncomfortable. Writing it out might be all you need, but you can also sent to PALS. Wishing you al l the best x

Savonne · 14/03/2026 19:22

I go to this place that's a one stop shop so you have the mammogram then you see the consultant and you have all your stuff in a kind of shopping basket and you sit there in gowns and you can do the whole thing (for me normally a cyst) in an hour
when I go for normal mammograms in Tesco car park, you just go in and take your clothes off no fucking about with gowns

Savonne · 14/03/2026 19:24

But @Cranberry2020 I don't see why you would need a gown, even if you did ask for one. You go in there take your clothes off stand at the machine get dressed again -where would the gown come in?

Original poster
Cranberry2020 · 14/03/2026 19:25

Savonne · 14/03/2026 19:24

But @Cranberry2020 I don't see why you would need a gown, even if you did ask for one. You go in there take your clothes off stand at the machine get dressed again -where would the gown come in?

She was asking me lots of questions at the time and I had nowhere to change privately. It was how I felt in that moment…

OP posts:
TonTonMacoute · 14/03/2026 19:26

TeenToTwenties · 14/03/2026 19:00

You can't really hold anything as at times you need to put your arms in funny positions so they can get the pictures you want.

I think the problem with all of this is you weren't given info as to what to expect upfront so your expectations were skewed compared with what happens.

I go to a mobile unit. You undress in a cubicle but then are naked waist up in the room with the nurse. I don't think wearing a gown would 'work' with how the mammograms are done.

Try to go back. Flowers

This. There is nothing nice or dignified about mammograms and I'm sorry you were taken by surprise. I think that actually the mobile units are better designed to deal with the process.

I do think you are being a bit precious I'm afraid, with all the hands on positioning that goes on, being naked or not is almost irrelevant. This about saving your life, not your modesty.

Original poster
Cranberry2020 · 14/03/2026 19:28

kiwiane · 14/03/2026 19:15

I find it well set up; there’s no need for a gown as you go directly into the room for the mammogram. If you would prefer not to be screened that’s your choice but it’s unreasonable to expect all healthcare to be organised to your own preference.

No you misunderstand me as I went for the screen. But when I asked for something that would help me and it was refused and then deteriorated with inviting the receptionist into the room… I want the screen of course but equally I need to be comfortable to be able to have it…

OP posts:
Original poster
Cranberry2020 · 14/03/2026 19:29

TonTonMacoute · 14/03/2026 19:26

This. There is nothing nice or dignified about mammograms and I'm sorry you were taken by surprise. I think that actually the mobile units are better designed to deal with the process.

I do think you are being a bit precious I'm afraid, with all the hands on positioning that goes on, being naked or not is almost irrelevant. This about saving your life, not your modesty.

Show quote history

I didn’t feel this way today. I think you can be treated with dignity and have the screen. Maybe even if they’d have taken a few minutes to explain it, it might have helped!

OP posts: