Do you Know Breast pain??

Last reviewed on: 20th November, 2021

Breast pain is any soreness in the breast or area around underarm, it is due to variety of reasons and it is normal for women of all ages. Usually breast pain is not a sign of breast cancer but it is soreness or burning sensation. It can be sensed in any part of the breast and can spread further to areas around. Other name of this condition includes mastodynia, mastalgia or mammalgia.

Most women worry about the breast pain, they thought that it might be the symptoms of breast cancer and other severe condition. This condition might be caused by normal monthly changes in hormones; the pain occurs in both breasts, these pains exude to the armpit and arm.

During menstrual period breast pain become severe before period and decline when period ends. At that period numerous hormones cause variation in breast tissues that give rise to discomfort in women.

TYPES OF BREAST PAIN

There are two types of breast pain, one associated with menstrual cycle (cyclic pain) and other not associated with menstrual cycle (non-cyclic pain), the explanation about these two is as follows;

1. Cyclic Pain

These are pains associated with menstrual cycle, pains range from mild to severe. It is normally sensed on both breasts and extends on your armpits and arms. The precise cause of this condition is unknown but it is connected to the changes in hormones prior the beginning of your period.

This kind of pain affects younger women and women with menopause, pains occurs in combination with swelling and lumps. The specific ages of women affected by cyclic pain includes 20s and 30s prior to menopause and women with 40s who are ending menopause. Normally cyclic pains disappear without any treatment and terminated at menopause.

The symptoms of cyclic pain are quite mild but others women experience severe pain, the following are some symptoms of this condition;

Symptoms

• Intense breast pains prior to menstrual period

• Dull ache (breast soreness or burning pain)

• Lumpy or hard lump breast

• Pain around underarm

• Tender breast

Note: The above symptoms are just few; you might have more other symptoms according to your condition.

2. Non-Cyclic Pain

These are pain which are not related with menstrual cycle, breast pain might be caused by benign (non-cancerous tissues) such as lumps or abscess, can also be caused by swollen and painful tissues of the breast (mastitis). Painful can occur on single breast or both.

Women aged from 30 to 50 are mostly affected by this problem; sometimes you can feel pain on single breast. The following are some symptoms of non-cyclic pains;

Symptoms

• Sharp, burning pain of the breast (women with very large breasts may feel pain as they lack adequate support)

• Continuous pain

• One breast pain and sometimes may spread through the chest

• Mastitis (swelling and tenderness of the breasts, burning sensation/an intense pain for lactation mothers while breastfeeding)

• Referred pain (when you feel pain within your breasts but the problem source is somewhere in your body)

Note: The above symptoms are just few; you might have more other symptoms according to your condition.

TREATMENT

Breasts pain can goes away without any treatment over time, if your condition became worse, it is important to consult your Doctor for further diagnosis and treatment. If you need treatment your doctor might recommend the following to reduce pain;

• Regulate birth control pills - if you are using birth control pills try to skip for a particular time even a week or try another birth control methods, these may help reducing breast pain. Before trying this method consult your doctor for medical advice.

• The use of Vitamin E - researches reveal that the use of vitamin E help reducing breast pain especially for premenstrual women.

• The use of Primrose oil - it change fatty acids balance of the cells and reduce breast pain

• Therapy - women with non-cyclic breast pain require treatment to cure the core cause for example for infectious mastistis, patient will be given antibiotics.

• Pain killers - Some women reduce pain of their breasts by taking simple painkillers such as Ibuprofen or Paracetamol.

PREVENTION

There is no specific prevention for breast pain, but wearing a well size bra for support may help. During exercise women with breast pain are required to wear sports bra as they prevent breast pain, discomfort or tenderness. These bra normally keep the breasts stationary and let them move together with the chest. For young man with developing breasts required to change new bra for every six months.

Sports-bra

Posted by: Lusubilo A. Mwaijengo