Soft Mammography

The Only Place in San Antonio Offering “Soft” Mammograms is Nix Health

A simple device that makes having mammograms a much more comfortable experience is available exclusively in San Antonio – at Nix Health. Called a MammoPad, it is a soft, single-use, foam pad that attaches to the compression plates of the mammogram machine and creates a cushion between the patient and the machine.

Since the MammoPad makes mammograms warmer, “softer,” and much less painful, the hope is that more women will no longer delay having mammograms at the times recommended by their doctor. An American study reported that nearly 75% of 500 women said that the pain of having a mammogram was reduced by an average of 47% when the pad was used.

“The biggest turn off for women needing regular mammograms is the discomfort of the procedure,” says Grace Perales, supervisor of mammography services at the Nix Health. “In addition to the breast being compressed, the surfaces of the mammography machine are cold and hard. We believe that, if you make the experience more pleasant and comfortable, it will increase the number of regular mammograms performed, which should mean earlier detection in more women and saving more lives.”

Two locations of Nix Health offer “soft” mammography: the downtown Nix Medical Center, 414 Navarro and Nix Alamo Heights, 5307 Broadway. Saturday mammograms are available at the Nix Medical Center. To make an appointment for a soft mammogram at either Nix location, call (210) 579-3211.