Abstract: Mammography apparatus comprising an x-ray source, a movable paddle and a detector, wherein the paddle and the detector are arranged to cooperate for pressurizing a breast so as to prepare for x-ray imaging of the breast, wherein the paddle connects to a paddle drive control system that drives the paddle towards the detector with a selected speed, wherein the paddle drive control system connects to a speed controller which provides the paddle drive control system a variating target setpoint that sets a rate at which the paddle drive control system drives the paddle towards the detector, wherein the apparatus comprises a contact area measurement device with which the contact area of the breast with the paddle and/or the detector is measurable, and that the speed controller is only operable for varying the target setpoint of the paddle drive control system when the contact area measurement device establishes that the said contact area surpasses a predefined first threshold value.