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Guidance

Your guide to NHS breast screening

Information on the NHS breast screening programme to help eligible women make a personal informed choice about whether to take part.

Updates to this page

From:
NHS England
Published:
1 July 2013
Last updated:
23 February 2026
Show all updates

  1. Amendments to BSL video and subtitling (new version uploaded).

  2. Added BSL video.

  3. Replaced points 4 & 5 in 'At your appointment' with the following text: '4. The mammographer will usually take 2 X-rays of each breast — one from above and one from the side. She will go behind a screen while the X-rays are taken.' Replaced the text 'Rarely, you may need a second screening appointment to get better quality images' with 'Rarely, you may need another mammogram before getting your result. Sometimes technical problems mean that the mammogram is not clear enough to read. If this happens, you will be asked to have another mammogram to get a clearer picture of your breast.'

  4. Re-added data protection statement at end of document.

  5. Changed content type to guidance.

  6. Uploading audio version of ‘Your guide to NHS breast screening’ leaflet.

  7. 30 new translations added in HTML replacing the 12 PDFs.

  8. Revised leaflet following a full review with input from clinical, patient and charity groups.

  9. Added 'Breast screening: helping you decide (Arabic)' translation.

  10. Added a Bengali version of the leaflet.

  11. Removed PHE screening helpdesk information and updated with NHS England contact details.

  12. Updating confidentiality section, replacing mention of Public Health England with NHS England.

  13. Addition of plain A4 PDF version for printing, to provide for people unable to access this information online.

  14. Added lifetime screening animation to the landing page.

  15. Added links and information in the details section. English PDF leaflet removed.

  16. Added HTML version of the leaflet and translations in 10 different languages.

  17. Updated leaflet.

  18. Added new version of 'NHS breast screening: helping you decide (English)' with updated information.

  19. Most recent English version uploaded.

  20. Addition of link to new audio version of leaflet.

  21. Added NHS breast screening: helping you decide (large print).

  22. First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Your guide to NHS breast screening

HTML

Audio transcript: Your guide to NHS breast screening podcast

HTML

British Sign Language (BSL) signed content: Taking part in NHS breast screening

HTML

Details

This information explains NHS breast screening and why it is offered. It is available in English and 30 language translations.

Free printed copies of this leaflet are available for NHS breast screening services to send with invitation letters (first invitations, and subsequent invitations for non-attenders).

For more information, see the ‘order printed leaflets’ section of our guidance on how to access and order leaflets.

A simple animation showing screening tests offered to women throughout their lives, including breast screening, is available:

To request another format, you can phone 0300 311 22 33 or email england.contactus@nhs.net.

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