Nor is it necessary – or even appropriate – to use your hands, gloved or bare, to put on the gel, Dr. Richard Reitherman, medical director of breast imaging at MemorialCare Breast Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California, told Women's Health. "Gel is applied directly from the container to the breast," he told the publication, adding that, "the transducer is generally the only thing that touches the woman's breast."

He also noted that Silverman's exam was unusual in other ways. "The technologist or radiologist only uncovers the breast being ultrasounded at that moment. The other is covered. You never have both breasts uncovered."


In addition he stressed to the magazine that, "the technologist is usually a female during a breast ultrasound," adding that, "standard practice designates the technologist or radiologist, if they are male, cannot be in the room alone with a patient without a female supervising."

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