Breast Pain : Main Causes and what to do Depending on the Situation

Breast pain, known as mastalgia, is a common symptom that affects about 70% of women, and can be caused by common hormonal changes related to premenstrual syndrome (PMS), menstruation or menopause, but in some cases it can be related to other more serious situations such as mastitis during breastfeeding, presence of breast cysts, or even breast cancer.

The pain in the breasts can be controlled with homemade solutions such as the use of warm compresses, massages during the bath and with the use of comfortable clothes and bras, being very rare the use of medications. In case the pain and discomfort remain for more than 15 days and if it seems that it is not related to menstruation or menopause, you should go to the gynecologist for an evaluation, and if necessary, perform tests.

Pain can occur in only one breast or both at the same time, and may even radiate to the arms. This breast pain can be mild, is considered normal, but it can also be severe preventing daily tasks. Here are the most common causes:

1. Beginning of Puberty

Girls between the ages of 10 and 14 who are entering puberty may have a small pain or discomfort in the breasts that are beginning to grow, and become more sore.

What to do: No specific treatment is necessary, but bathing with warm water can relieve discomfort. In this phase, it is also important to wear a bra that is a good support and that is suitable for breast size.

2. PMS or Menstruation

Before and during menstruation, hormonal changes can cause mastalgia in some women, not being serious, despite causing discomfort every month. It can cause stitches and tenderness in the breasts or nipples. When the pain is mild or moderate and lasts 1 to 4 days, it is considered normal, but when it lasts more than 10 days and radiates to the arms or armpits it causes many disorders and you should see a doctor for investigation.

What to do: It is rarely necessary to take medication, but the intake of birth control pills can help relieve symptoms, being also useful to reduce menstrual cramps. When the pain is very bothersome, the gynecologist may indicate the intake of Bromocriptine, Danazol, Tamoxifen; and as natural options the Agnus Castus, Evening primrose or primrose oil, or vitamin E, which must be taken for 3 months and then evaluate the results.

3. Pregnancy

The breasts may be especially sensitive at the beginning and end of pregnancy, due to the growth of the mammary glands or the production of breast milk. If you suspect pregnancy, see the first 10 symptoms of pregnancy.

What to do: Placing hot packs can help relieve discomfort, as well as take a bath with warm water and massage the region. In pregnancy, it is recommended to wear special bras for breastfeeding, as they provide better breast support.

4. Breast Pain During Breastfeeding

During breastfeeding when the breasts are full of milk, the breasts can become hard and very sore. Acute pain can also occur, located in the nipple, this may indicate the existence of a crack, which causes intense pain and even bleeding.

Another more serious situation that may occur during breastfeeding or even a few days before delivery is that the breast milk stagnates and clogs the ducts where it comes out, causing an infection called mastitis, which causes severe pain in the breasts, in the areola or nipple, and is usually accompanied by other symptoms such as redness, lumps that feel and heat of the affected area.

Learn more about the factors that can interfere with breastfeeding.

What to do:  If the breast is full of milk, the best strategy is to take the baby or take the milk with a manual or electric pump. If the nipples are sore, the area should be well observed to check if there is any blocked duct or crack in the place where the pain occurs. So if there is any problem with breastfeeding, the obstetrician nurse or pediatrician can personally tell you what to do to solve this problem.

5. Use of Medications

Taking certain medications such as Methyldopa, Spironolactone, Digoxin, Oxymetholone, and Chlorpromazine have sinus pain as a side effect.

What to do: The doctor should be informed about the appearance of this symptom and also its intensity. The doctor can check the possibility of taking another medication that does not cause mastalgia.

6. Cysts in the Breasts

Some women have irregular breast tissue called fibrocystic breasts, which can cause pain mainly before menstruation. This type of problem is not linked to cancer, but it also causes the formation of nodules in the breasts that can grow or disappear on their own.

What to do: In cases where the pain is not related to menstruation, medications such as Paracetamol, Aspirin or Ibuprofen may be used, under medical indication.

7. Change of Birth Control Pills

When you start taking or changing your contraceptive, breast pain may occur, which may be mild or moderate and usually affects both breasts at the same time, and there may also be a burning sensation.

What to do: Massage during the bath and wearing a comfortable bra can be a good solution as long as the body does not adapt to the birth control pill, which can take 2 to 3 months.

In addition to these causes, there are many others, such as trauma, physical activity, thrombophlebitis, sclerosing adenosis, benign tumors, or macrocysts, which can be diagnosed by the gynecologist or mastologist. So if breast pain is still present even when carrying out the homemade solutions indicated here, a consultation is recommended so that the doctor can make the diagnosis and indicate the most appropriate treatment for each situation.

When Breast Pain can Be Cancer

Rarely, breast pain is a sign of cancer, since malignant tumors generally do not cause pain. In the case of breast cancer, other symptoms must be present as a discharge from the nipple, the presence of a groove in the breast, among others.

The women most at risk of breast cancer are those who have a family history with this type of cancer, who are over 45 years of age, and those who have previously had some type of cancer. Young women who breastfed and had only benign lesions or even those who had benign cysts do not have an increased risk of breast cancer.

In any situation, in case of suspicion of breast cancer, you should go to the gynecologist to evaluate the signs and symptoms and indicate the performance of a mammogram from 40 years of age to verify if it is really cancer or Some other disease.

See more about the symptoms that may indicate breast cancer.

When to See a Doctor

You should see a doctor when your breast pain is severe or lasts more than 10 consecutive days, or if it appears in conjunction with other symptoms such as:

• Clear or bloody discharge in the nipple;
• Redness or pus in the breasts;
• Fever or;
• The emergence of a nodule or a small breast ball that disappears after the menstrual period.

In addition to this, it is important to go to the gynecologist at least once a year to perform gynecological and breast control exams, as a way to prevent and identify alterations or diseases in time.

The doctor usually evaluates the breasts by observing the place of pain, if there are alterations such as asymmetry or retraction of the breast at some point, and also looks for swollen or painful nodes in the armpits or clavicles to verify if there is a need to request exams such as mammography or breast ultrasound, especially if there is a history of cancer in the family.