How to check breast

Breast examination requires going to the hospital for examination, because we cannot see the breast with the naked eye. We mainly check whether there is papillomavirus. When breast pain occurs, it may be due to breast infection. We need to perform a breast examination to determine the condition. You can press the breast at home to check whether there are lumps in the breast.

1. How to check breasts at the hospital

For married women with children, doctors will prescribe HPV testing based on the situation. HPV is the abbreviation of human papillomavirus. HPV testing mainly checks whether you are carrying HPV. Generally speaking, HPV is closely related to the occurrence of cervical cancer. The best time to check the breasts is generally around 7-10 days after the end of menstruation, because at this time the effect of estrogen on the breast is smaller, the breast is in a relatively physiologically stable period, and breast lesions or abnormalities are easier to detect. Postmenopausal women can freely choose the time to have a breast examination.

2. What is the mammary gland?

The mammary gland is located between the superficial and deep layers of the subcutaneous superficial fascia. The superficial fascia extends into the breast tissue to form cord-like lobular septa, one end of which is connected to the pectoralis muscle fascia and the other end is connected to the skin, fixing the breast gland in the subcutaneous tissue of the chest. The mammary glands can secrete milk under the action of prolactin, thereby providing food for the young. In humans, progesterone and lutein promote the development of terminal ducts of mammary lobules into small alveoli. After delivery, the secretion of prolactin increases significantly and the mammary glands begin to secrete milk.

3. What is the structure of the breast?

The number (2 to 20) and location (on the abdomen or chest) of mammary glands vary from species to species. In most mammals, the mammary gland opening is a nipple, which has a certain number of milk duct openings, but only one milk duct leads to the storage cavity. Asler Cooper discovered in 1839 that women have 15-20 mammary ducts, but American Susan Love and Karen Lindsay believed that there are actually only 6-9 mammary ducts that lead from the gland to the nipple, and the remaining openings found in the nipple are sebaceous gland openings, not mammary duct openings.

How to do a breast exam yourself

1. Look

Look carefully in the mirror and pay attention to the following breast phenomena: whether the skin is bumpy and wrinkled, similar to orange peel, and the skin under the armpits becomes thicker; the nipple becomes abnormally sunken or tilted; peeling occurs within the areola or pain lasts for several weeks; fluid oozing from the nipple, especially bloody or pus-like secretions; local skin changes in color.

2. Touch

It should be performed one week after the end of menstruation. Lie flat or sit up, put five fingers together and use the fingertips to carefully touch each part of the breast in order, and choose light, medium and heavy strength for palpation. Remember not to pinch or grab the breasts with your hands. Generally, the left hand checks the right breast and the right hand checks the left breast. Because breast cancer often metastasizes to the axillary and supraclavicular lymph nodes, the physical examination of the breast should routinely check the size, texture and mobility of the axillary lymph nodes. Do not grasp the underarm tissue or skin during the examination. Pay attention to the comparison of both breasts. If women experience the above phenomenon, they should go to the hospital for examination immediately!