Most of the time, the symptoms are more of an annoyance than a serious medical concern. Nonetheless, whenever you are worried about changes in your breasts, consult your doctor. Sore breasts can be a symptom of menopause and a variety of health conditions. Fluctuating hormone levels account for most episodes of premenstrual breast swelling and tenderness.
Your hormones rise and fall during a normal menstrual cycle. The exact timing of the hormonal changes varies for each woman. Estrogen causes the breast ducts to enlarge. Progesterone production causes the milk glands to swell. Both of these events can cause your breasts to feel sore. Estrogen peaks in the middle of the cycle, while progesterone levels rise during the week before menstruation. Tenderness and heaviness in both breasts are the main symptoms of premenstrual pain and swelling.
A dull aching in the breasts can also be a problem for some women. Your breast tissue could feel dense or coarse to the touch. Symptoms tend to appear the week before your period and disappear almost immediately when menstrual bleeding begins. Most women do not experience severe pain. In some cases, breast tenderness affects the everyday routines of some women of childbearing age, and is not necessarily connected to the menstrual cycle. Due to the natural change in hormone levels that occur as a woman ages, premenstrual breast swelling and tenderness usually improves as menopause approaches.
The symptoms of PMS can closely resemble those of early pregnancy; learn how to distinguish between the two. Sudden or worrisome breast changes should be discussed with your doctor. While most premenstrual breast pain and swelling is harmless, these symptoms could be warning signs of infection or other medical conditions. The symptoms will begin in the luteal phase of your menstrual cycle or the time between your ovulation and the first day of your period.
The symptoms should go away within the first couple of days of your period. For some women, these symptoms are very severe. Sometimes cyclic mastalgia may be a woman's only premenstrual luteal phase complaint. But for some women breast pain and swelling are only one of several premenstrual symptoms.
In fact, cyclic mastalgia is one of the criteria used to make the diagnosis of premenstrual dysphoric disorder PMDD. Understandably, one of the biggest concerns you may have if you experience painful and swollen breasts is the possibility that you may have breast cancer. In fact, breast pain, in general, is very rarely a sign of breast cancer. It is important to discuss your symptoms with your healthcare provider.
A breast exam is warranted. Your healthcare provider may recommend additional testing if you have a palpable mass that is concerning or if you are due for recommended breast cancer screening based on your age and family history.
If you experience breast pain in tandem with your periods and don't want to use drugs, there are a few natural options you can try:. If these first-line interventions are not helping, your healthcare provider may suggest these additional medications:.
If your symptoms do not respond to any of these treatment options you may need to consider surgical management although this is, of course, your very last treatment option. Also, be sure to discuss the use of any herbal supplement with your healthcare provider before you start, as serious interactions with medication or worsening of health problems can occur.
Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Stanford Children's Health. The most well-known xenoestrogen is bisphenol-A BPA found in plastics such as cling film, water bottles and the lining of takeaway coffee cups. BPA has been found to mimic oestrogen, adding to the levels already in our body, and there are concerns that high-circulating oestrogen is not good for our breast health.
So it makes sense to make switches where you can. Exercise, proper sleeping patterns and stress management are also recommended to support hormone balance and reduce breast tenderness — watch your own cycle and symptoms and work out the best plan of action for you, or talk to a qualified naturopath, nutritional therapist or integrative GP to identify and treat the cause of any menstrual irregularities you may be experiencing.
Because whilst PMS is common, there is much that can be done to manage it. We use cookies to improve your experience on our site.
Some may be more serious than others. Learn more about the causes of breast pain here. Bumps on the nipples are not typically a cause for concern, but some may require a visit to the doctor. Learn more about causes and treatment options…. A breast abscess is a pus-filled lump caused by an infection. Learn more about how they form, how to prevent them, and the treatments available. Why are my breasts sore before a period?
Medically reviewed by Holly Ernst, P. Causes Symptoms Other causes of breast pain Treatment Home remedies Seeing a doctor Outlook The menstrual cycle can cause many symptoms, including sore breasts. What causes sore breasts before a period? Share on Pinterest Breast pain is a common symptom of menstruation. Other causes of breast pain. Share on Pinterest Breastfeeding can cause mastitis. Home remedies. When to see a doctor.
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