Breast pain, what to do? How to get rid of pain? Classification of breast pain

Update: October 2018

Pain in the mammary glands to one degree or another worries more than half of all women. It ranges from mild discomfort to excruciating burning and heaviness that reduces quality of life. Therefore, it is very important to find the cause of the pain, and then choose an effective treatment.

How are the mammary glands arranged?

The female breast consists of a gland divided by ducts into lobules, connective tissue and fat. The predominance of glandular or fibrous (connective) tissue depends on age, hormonal levels, weight and characteristics of the body. But the mammary gland of any woman is an organ in which changes constantly occur in parallel with the menstrual cycle (see). Hormonal changes look like this:

During the first 14 days (with a 28-day cycle), follicles actively mature in the ovaries. Towards the middle of the cycle, the follicle ruptures and releases the egg. This is combined with the ejection peak. After the release of the egg, a corpus luteum forms at the site of the follicle. This phase is characterized by the production of progesterone. If conception does not occur, the corpus luteum gradually fades away, and the level of both hormones decreases towards the end of the cycle. Menstruation occurs.

The female hormone estrogen has a great influence on the mammary glands. It causes an increase in the number of glandular cells and connective tissue elements. These cells line all the ducts in the chest. Excess estrogen can turn groups of glands into cysts. They are in most cases safe and do not require treatment.

Mammary cancer

Breast cancer is considered the most dangerous of all causes of chest pain. This is a tumor that ranks first among cancer processes in women. In addition to its high prevalence, this cancer is also dangerous due to its high mortality rate, since many women delay visiting a doctor until the last minute.

Risk factors for breast cancer

• Early menstruation, late menopause, absence of childbirth and pregnancy
• Obesity
• Age over 60 years
• Previous history of breast, ovarian or colon cancer
• Oncological processes of the above organs and close relatives (mother, sister, grandmother)

Among all these factors, one dominates: the effect of estrogen on the mammary gland. It must be remembered that ordinary diffuse mastopathy and cyclic chest pain before menstruation are not risk factors and causes of cancer development.

Heredity, aggravated by cases of oncology, requires careful attention to health. Up to 10% of breast cancers are considered the result of a genetic disorder. The presence of special genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 increases the risk of developing cancer tenfold. Therefore, chest pain in a woman whose relatives had breast cancer requires special treatment and special research.

Symptoms of breast cancer

Small tumors without metastases most often do not cause any discomfort. Pain occurs only when there is an “unfortunate” location near the nerve endings. Therefore, an important stage in early diagnosis is.

Paget's cancer is considered a special form of cancer. It is localized in the nipple area, causing its deformation and retraction, as well as pain to the left or right of it.

Breast cancer treatment

In the initial stages of the disease, when the cancer has not spread beyond the breast or nearby lymph nodes, complex treatment is usually used. This includes surgery to remove the cancer, chemotherapy and radiation. Depending on the type of tumor, hormonal drugs may be used. Sometimes a tumor that is too large is reduced with chemotherapy and then removed. The scope of surgical intervention in our country is usually large: the mammary gland, lymph nodes and underlying muscles are removed. In European countries, women detect the disease much earlier, so they undergo partial resection of the mammary gland with cosmetic sutures.

Breast examination methods

If you experience pain in the mammary glands, you need to undergo a series of tests. They will help to establish the cause of discomfort, exclude life-threatening conditions and select adequate treatment.

Breast self-examination

Lying down - to examine the right breast, place a pillow under the right shoulder blade, and place the right hand behind the head. Using your fingertips, examine the entire breast in a circle, from the periphery to the nipple.
Standing - examinations are carried out in two positions: with arms down and arms up.

What to look for during the examination:

• Seal of any shape and size. Especially: with uneven contours, motionless, large sizes.
• Nipple retraction
• Discharge from the nipple of any color (except milk during pregnancy and lactation)
• Change in breast size (asymmetry)
• “Lemon peel” type change in breast skin
• Changes in skin color (redness, blueness) and temperature
• Pain when feeling
• Presence of ulcerations on the skin of the chest

All of the above signs are a reason to contact a specialist. This doctor could be a mammologist, gynecologist or therapist. If the doctor has concerns about a woman’s health, he will send her for further examination and consultation with an oncologist. Examining and palpating a woman's breasts helps detect breast cancer in its early stages. But in fairness, it should be noted that most of the tumors were found by the woman on her own. They are benign and do not even require treatment.

Breast examination if pain occurs

Mammography is an x-ray examination of the mammary glands. The method is the standard for diagnosing breast pathology in women over 40 years of age. It allows you to assess the condition of the mammary gland tissue, the prevalence of pathology, and the nature of the growth of the tumor process. But if the glandular dense component predominates in the breast, mammography becomes uninformative. Therefore, young women are recommended to have an ultrasound instead of an x-ray.

Ultrasound of the mammary glands- Ultrasound examination of the breast is indicated in the following cases:

• in pregnant and lactating women
• in young women for the purpose of prevention
• in all women with complaints of pain (as an addition to mammography)
• for differential diagnosis of cysts

CT and MRI of the mammary glands- computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging - additional examination methods. There is no need to use them when you first consult a doctor or generally for prophylaxis. Usually they are resorted to when the diagnosis is unclear, when mammography and ultrasound give an unclear picture. In addition, MRI and CT help to assess the condition of neighboring organs and detect even distant metastases in malignant tumors.

Aspiration biopsy- with a painful (or painless) formation in the mammary gland, especially in women in menopause and with a family history, one x-ray is not enough. To make a diagnosis, you need to study the cells of the formation for malignancy. For this purpose, aspiration biopsy is often used. In some cases, this stage is skipped, resorting immediately to removal of the tumor and subsequent examination of the resulting material.

If necessary, the doctor prescribes additional examination methods to make a diagnosis.

Treatment of breast pain

Treatment of pain directly depends on the cause that caused it. Therefore, first of all, you need to contact a specialist for a thorough examination.

Treatment of cyclic pain

The so-called diffuse mastopathy with premenstrual pain is a safe and benign phenomenon. At its core, this is a normal reaction to a normal ovulatory cycle. But if a woman is bothered by painful sensations, several methods are used.

• Conversation with a doctor

Oddly enough, a simple conversation with a specialist is often enough to completely relieve symptoms. After an explanation about the safety of mastopathy, the absence of cancer or the risk of its occurrence, the woman’s condition improves sharply, and the pain subsides.

• Selecting the right underwear

A tight bra of the correct shape and size can reduce discomfort from cyclic pain

• Aromatherapy, proper rest and dosed physical activity for PMS
• Limiting fatty foods and losing weight
• Oral contraceptives

Taking combined oral contraceptives is a temporary “switch off” of ovulation. No ovulation means no hormone surges. Therefore, discomfort and pain while taking COCs usually decrease or even disappear completely.

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (, and others)
• Tamoxifen is a drug used for severe mastopathy with very severe pain. It has a number of side effects, so it is prescribed strictly according to indications

It is important to remember that homeopathic remedies (mastodinon and others) that supposedly relieve mastopathy are quackery. The effect is usually based on self-hypnosis. Therefore, there is no point in using drugs with unproven effectiveness and safety when you can limit yourself to proper rest, taking a bath, or one conversation with a doctor.

Treatment of non-cyclic pain

If cysts, tumors, or inflammatory processes are detected, a doctor’s consultation, thorough diagnosis, and in some cases surgery are necessary. After removal of the benign formation, PMS treatment can be used. After treatment of malignant neoplasms, many drugs are contraindicated. Pain in breast cancer with distant metastases is usually very severe, painful, and cannot be relieved by NSAIDs. Sometimes it is necessary to use narcotic analgesics to relieve cancer pain.

Treatment of non-breast pain

A competent doctor will determine the source and cause of pain by prescribing additional examinations. Treatment is selected according to the pathology.

Questions your doctor may ask

Before visiting a doctor, you need to think about some questions that the specialist will probably ask.

• In what part of the chest does the pain feel?
• What is the nature of the sensations? (aching, bursting, stabbing pain?)
• How long does the pain last?
• Rate the severity of pain on a 10-point scale
• Does one or both mammary glands hurt?
• Is there a pattern when pain occurs (menstruation, physical activity, breastfeeding, etc.)
• When did you have your last mammogram?
• Are there other symptoms? (breast lumps, nipple discharge, etc.)
• You are pregnant? Are you breastfeeding? Have you recently had a miscarriage?
• Have you had a history of breast trauma or breast surgery?
• Has anyone in your immediate family had breast, ovarian or colon cancer?

Many women associate the causes of breast pain with cancer - this is completely wrong. The causes of chest pain can be different: cyst, and many others. Inappropriate underwear can also cause discomfort. How to determine the cause of chest pain? Read our article today.

Pain not associated with diseases

To begin with, we will list the probable causes of chest pain that are not related to illness. Most often, these are the reasons that are observed in most women, so there is no need to worry about your health and life.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

Fluctuations in hormone levels are the most common cause of breast pain in women between 20 and 20 years of age. The physiological decrease in estrogen levels and the simultaneous increase in progesterone in the second half of the menstrual cycle leads, among other things, to the retention of water in the glandular tissue. The breasts become heavy, swollen, and painful.

In some women, increased prolactin levels may be responsible for this symptom. The pain, in this case nagging, weak, regularly appears a few days before menstruation and disappears with the onset of bleeding. This is one of the symptoms of PMS - premenstrual syndrome.

Periodic chest pain before menstruation is sometimes almost imperceptible, does not appear every cycle, but sometimes becomes a serious problem for the fairer sex. They limit physical activity, cause irritability, nervousness, and contribute to depression.

Pregnancy and childbirth

Chest pain during pregnancy can be stabbing and intermittent, or continuous. It can appear as early as 5 weeks: the breasts become swollen and tender to the touch. In this case, properly selected underwear, cold compresses or a contrast shower (alternating hot and cold water) can help.

After childbirth, every third woman suffers from inflammation of the mammary glands. This is due to the fact that the milk ducts are clogged, as a result of which the breasts swell and become inflamed and become tender to the touch. To solve this problem, use a breast pump. Despite the pain, there is no need to refuse feeding to the baby. You can also use cabbage compresses, medicinal ointments, and massages.

Exercise, injury or inappropriate bra

Breast tenderness may have a trivial cause - for example, an injury caused by strong pressure from seat belts in a car during sudden braking or excessive physical exertion.

This symptom also affects women who wear incorrectly sized bras. Too loose underwear does not support the breasts well, too tight - it deforms. Pay attention to these points.

Pain associated with diseases

Unfortunately, breast diseases are not uncommon these days. Therefore, pain can signal precisely one or another ailment.

Mastopathy

If breast pain is accompanied by swelling, hardness and endometriosis (numerous lumps on the breast), this may indicate mastitis.

With this disease, chest pain goes away simultaneously with the onset of menstruation, and then returns again. The cause of mastopathy, as a rule, is (very low levels of progesterone in relation to estrogen). Such changes tend to occur in women over the age of 30; after menopause, the disease gradually disappears.

To confirm mastopathy, the doctor will prescribe an ultrasound, a test for hormone levels in the blood, and sometimes a mammogram. If there is no suspicion of breast cancer, you must restore hormonal balance. Also, do not forget to undergo an examination with a mammologist once a year. This is important because cysts can form in overgrown breast tissue.

Cyst

Typically, only large cysts can cause pain radiating into the armpit. But in the early stages these tumors are too small. Cysts appear between 30 and 50 years of age. These are bubbles filled with liquid. They are smooth to the touch and can be easily moved between your fingers.

To diagnose a cyst, your doctor will order an ultrasound or mammogram, and sometimes a biopsy. In case of chest pain, a biopsy, by the way, will bring immediate relief.

Fibroadenoma

Fibroadenoma rarely causes chest pain - only in case of sudden growth, when it comes to hemorrhage in the tumor tissue. When palpated, breast fibroadenoma is smooth and hard and can be the size of a pea or a small lemon. Most often grows near the nipple.

Typically, fibroadenoma affects women under 30 years of age, including teenage girls. It is formed due to excessive growth of glandular and fibrous breast tissue.

To confirm the diagnosis, an ultrasound examination and possibly a biopsy are performed to examine the tissue under a microscope for the presence of tumor cells. Women under the age of 25 rarely develop cancer due to fibroadenoma and therefore simply remain under medical supervision. But if the patient wishes, the tumor can be removed. Ladies of middle age and older should undergo surgery, as they have a much higher risk of developing a malignant tumor.

Papillomas

Chest pain caused by papilloma can be very severe. This is because papilloma forms on the milk ducts, blocking them and leading to the development of painful inflammation and abscesses. Papillomas are found in women aged 40-50 years, before menopause. Often the disease is detected by pressing on the breast or nipple - in this case, a gray or milky liquid is released. This fluid may also be blood-colored. The patient is scheduled for surgery.

Mammary cancer

Breast pain caused by cancer only appears when the size of the nodule reaches at least 2 centimeters. This is why it is so important to consult a doctor as soon as you notice any changes in your breasts.

Chest pain is a fairly common complaint for premenopausal women, but it is much less common in older women. If your chest hurts, there may be several reasons, and some of them pose a serious threat to life and health.

Types of pain

Basically, doctors distinguish between two types of chest pain:

Such pain is not a pathological condition and worries many women on the eve of menstruation. There is no point in worrying about them and seeing a doctor every month.

1. Non-cyclical. If the chest hurts without any system, then the pain is called non-cyclical. Most often it hurts not in both glands at once, but only in one. There are several reasons that provoke the development of this unpleasant syndrome.

Non-cyclical pain in the mammary gland is usually aching, but the pain can intensify in response to movements and touches to the chest, and sometimes it also hurts in the armpit area, thus limiting movements in the arm.

Common reasons

The reasons why one mammary gland is affected by pain are very diverse.

• Mastitis. Mastitis is a process of inflammation that affects breast tissue. If this disease develops in the postpartum period, then the first signs can be noticed already 3-4 days after birth. The breast becomes a place of stagnation of milk - this is why mastitis develops in women in labor.

This pathology occurs not only in women who have recently given birth and breastfeeding, but also in completely healthy ones. If a woman’s immunity is weakened, and chronic processes occur in the body, for example, sinusitis, then pathogenic microorganisms can enter the mammary gland.

• Mastopathy. Mastopathy is another reason why one breast may hurt. This disease is characterized by the formation of benign neoplasms, which are represented by the proliferation of ducts inside the lobules, gland vesicles and the connective tissue itself.

As a result, some structures in the chest become excessively compressed while others expand too much, resulting in a feeling of soreness that can radiate to the armpit and limit the movement of the arm.

Mastopathy usually develops against the background of severe hormonal imbalances and is dangerous because benign neoplasms degenerate into malignant ones if the approach to treatment is inattentive.

Fibroadenoma is closely related to the work of the hormonal glands, since if you conduct an examination on the eve of or during the menstrual cycle, you can notice a decrease in the size of the tumor.

• Cancer. This pathology is especially dangerous and does not provoke pain if it is at an early stage - this is its main insidiousness.

As the tumor grows and spreads, it begins to affect the nerve endings, which leads to the development of pain in the gland affected by the tumor. Complaints describing pain may differ from patient to patient depending on the location of the tumor.

Untreated mastopathy, as well as late childbirth, contribute to the development of cancerous tumors in the mammary glands.

More rare causes

• Fat necrosis. Why does fat necrosis develop in the mammary gland? The most common cause of this pathology is injuries in the mammary glands. Due to the similarity of symptoms, this pathology is often confused with cancer.
• Cyst. If there is pain in the breast, then the development of a cyst may explain why this symptom appears. A cyst is a cavity made of connective tissue that is filled with fluid.

The reason why cystic formations form is still not fully known, although there are many assumptions. The most dangerous cyst in the mammary gland is that with the slightest injury there is a risk of damage to the walls, which is why the contents of the cyst spill into the surrounding tissue.

The pain in women with cysts is usually severe and cannot be ignored.

• Incorrectly selected underwear. A bra that is the wrong size or made of synthetics is why the mammary gland often hurts.

This happens due to the fact that due to too dark tissue in the gland, stagnation occurs and proper blood circulation is blocked. If the harmful effects are not stopped in time, the mammary gland can become the site of the formation of malignant neoplasms.

Should I go to the doctors?

If you are worried about non-cyclical pain in one gland, then this is undoubtedly a reason to consult a doctor. In what cases is it immediately clear why it is necessary not to postpone a visit to a specialist?

• The mammary gland has noticeably changed in size and shape, and asymmetry of the bust can be seen.
• The nipple is changed: it can be retracted into the gland, or it can respond by releasing fluid to pressure.
• When palpated, it is possible to detect a compaction in or around the gland.
• There is pain when pressed.
• The skin of the mammary gland or around it has undergone any noticeable changes: it has become rough, redness, and peeling have appeared.

It is necessary to carefully assess the condition of the bust and if suspicious symptoms appear, do not postpone a visit to a specialist so that the situation does not worsen.

Diagnostics

Pain in one gland is not a symptom of any specific disease, which is why it is necessary to consult a specialist to understand the cause of the disease. The doctor, after listening to the complaints, evaluates:

• Duration of pain.
• Dependence of sensations on the menstrual cycle.
• Localization of pain.
• Are there any seals and where are they located relative to the site of pain?
• Are there any changes in the nipple?
• Could the changes in the glands be associated with taking hormonal medications?

After assessing the patient's general condition and examining the breasts, the doctor will have a rough idea of ​​what tests and diagnostic methods are best prescribed to confirm the suspected diagnosis. Also, after receiving the examination results, it will be possible to choose treatment tactics.

Most often, women complaining of pain in one breast are prescribed:

• General blood analysis.
• Blood chemistry.
• Chest X-ray.
• Mammography.

In some cases, when diagnosis is difficult, they resort to repeating studies using contrast agents.

Treatment

The choice of treatment method for pain that occurs in one breast depends on the specific disease that caused it.

Unsystematic treatment, based on a single symptom and not taking into account the diagnosis as a whole, may not only not relieve a woman of pain, but also aggravate the situation.

You can begin treatment only when an accurate diagnosis has been established and the doctor has chosen a treatment regimen. In some cases, therapy only involves taking medications to achieve a particular result, and sometimes it is necessary to resort to surgery to eliminate the pathology.

If a woman notices pain in her breasts or any changes in its shape and structure, then this is a reason to consult a mammologist rather than self-medicate at home. Examination and proper therapy will help you get rid of pain and avoid more serious consequences.

Many women at one time or another in their lives have encountered the problem of chest pain. The appearance of these symptoms should not cause panic or fear, but they should not be taken lightly either. In order for every woman to have peace of mind about her health, and, if necessary, to be able to undergo the necessary course of treatment in a timely manner, she needs to become familiar with the symptoms and causes of pain in the mammary glands.

Cyclic and non-cyclical chest pain

Pain localized in the mammary glands has a medical name - mastalgia. Mastalgia is divided into two groups - cyclic and non-cyclic.

Cyclic mastalgia or mammalgia- pain in the mammary glands of a woman, which occurs on certain days of the menstrual cycle, namely two to seven days before the start of the next menstruation. For most women, this pain does not cause discomfort - it is not very strong, more like a feeling of fullness of the mammary glands, a burning sensation inside them. Within a couple of days, these sensations disappear without a trace.

A woman's breasts change throughout life. In one menstrual cycle, the influence of various hormones that are produced in the female body stimulate the tone or relaxation of the walls of the excretory ducts in the mammary glands and affect the tissue of the lobules. About a week before the onset of menstrual bleeding, a large number of epithelial cells and lobular secretions accumulate in the ducts of the mammary glands. The mammary glands swell, more blood flows to them, they become larger in volume and dense, painful to the touch. Cyclic breast pain in women always manifests itself simultaneously in both mammary glands.

In some women, cyclic mastodynia manifests itself pathologically strongly. The pain sometimes becomes simply unbearable, and the woman cannot lead a normal life, do her usual activities, and feels very bad on such days. As a rule, increased pain in the mammary glands is a sign that some pathological process is beginning in the body, and the woman needs to see a doctor for examination and subsequent treatment, if necessary.

Non-cyclical pain in the mammary glands are not associated with a woman’s menstrual cycle; they are always provoked by some other factors, in some cases pathological.

When a woman's body undergoes changes associated with hormonal changes - the level of female sex hormones increases. Under the influence of estrogen and human chorionic gonadotropin, the lobules of the mammary glands begin to swell, secretion is formed in the ducts, and at the end of pregnancy - colostrum. From the first days of pregnancy, a woman’s breasts acquire increased sensitivity, even soreness. As you know, soreness and engorgement of a woman’s mammary glands are. This soreness of the breasts in the first weeks of pregnancy can also be different - from a slight burning sensation, tingling of the nipples, to severe tension in the mammary glands and dull pain radiating to the shoulder blades, lower back, and arms. Such phenomena usually disappear completely by the end of the first trimester of pregnancy, that is, by the 10th – 12th weeks.

A woman’s breasts are intensively preparing for the upcoming feeding of the baby and lactation. Women note a significant enlargement of the mammary glands, various tingling sensations in them, feelings of tension, engorgement. But these phenomena are not painful; normally they should not be accompanied by severe pain. If a woman notices pain that does not go away, and even more so if the pain is localized only in one mammary gland, she should seek advice from her gynecologist in order to timely rule out various diseases and pathological processes not related to pregnancy.

What signs indicate that a woman should immediately consult a doctor?

• Chest pain occurs regardless of the menstrual cycle.
• The nature of the pain can be described as an unbearable burning sensation, severe compression in the glands.
• The pain is localized in one breast, is not distributed throughout the entire mammary gland, but is expressed only in a certain area.
• Pain in the mammary glands does not go away, but intensifies over time.
• In parallel with pain or discomfort in the chest, a woman notices an increase in body temperature, deformation of the mammary glands, nodes and any formations in the breast, the most painful areas, redness of the glands, discharge of fluid or blood from the nipples (not associated with the last months of pregnancy) .
• The woman notices pain every day for a long period of time, more than two weeks.
• Pain in the mammary glands prevents a woman from doing her daily activities, causes neurasthenia, insomnia, and does not allow her to wear regular clothes due to pressure on the breasts.

What diseases are accompanied by pain in the mammary glands?

Mastopathy– these are fibrocystic growths in the mammary glands of a woman, an imbalance between connective and epithelial tissues. Mastopathy causes non-cyclical pain in the mammary glands. Mastopathy appears in women in case of hormonal instability, under the influence of various unfavorable factors that change the normal hormonal background of the female body. These factors include abortion, neuroses, chronic inflammatory and infectious diseases of the female genital area, thyroid diseases, pathological conditions of the pituitary gland, liver diseases, cessation of breastfeeding during increased lactation, and irregular sex life.

Mastopathy in women does not appear suddenly. It is formed over several years, while in the mammary glands of a woman, when normal physiological processes are disrupted, foci of epithelial tissue grow, which compress the ducts, nerve roots, interfere with the normal outflow of secretion in the ducts, and deform the lobules of the mammary glands. Today, mastopathy is the most common benign disease of the mammary glands; it is observed in women mainly 30-50 years old. With mastopathy, a woman notes a feeling of burning, bloating, and compression in the mammary glands. She may also experience other symptoms - nausea, lack of appetite, dizziness, abdominal pain. Mastopathy is a pathological condition that requires observation by a doctor, and in many cases, systematic treatment.

Infectious and inflammatory processes in the mammary glands - diseases that can cause both chest pain and an increase in overall body temperature, deteriorating a woman’s well-being. Pain in infectious and inflammatory diseases of the mammary glands can be of various types, but most often it is shooting, aching, radiating to the shoulder blades, armpits, and abdomen. Most often, mastitis is observed in women who have recently given birth, during the period of breastfeeding the baby. These diseases require urgent treatment from a doctor.

Breast cancer– a malignant neoplasm in the mammary gland, which is characterized by the formation of large accumulations of atypical cells in it, which form a tumor over time. In some cases, breast cancer develops asymptomatically until a certain stage, so a woman should be especially attentive to any changes in her body. The most common changes in the mammary gland during cancer are “orange peel” in a certain area of ​​the skin, severe peeling of the mammary gland and nipple, deformation of the nipple and the shape of the mammary gland, thickening, retractions in the mammary gland, bloody discharge from the nipple, retraction of the nipple. If pain occurs in the mammary glands, especially in one of the glands, and this pain is in no way related to the menstrual cycle or pregnancy, you should consult a doctor for advice to exclude the development of cancer.

What conditions and diseases of women also cause pain in the mammary glands?

• Treatment with hormonal drugs for infertility or hormonal imbalance of the menstrual cycle, menopause.
• Very large breast size; Tight underwear that does not match your breast size.
• Other diseases that cause pain radiating to the mammary glands are herpes zoster, thoracic osteochondrosis, heart disease, intercostal neuralgia, diseases of the lymph nodes of the axillary areas, cysts in the fatty tissue of the breast, furunculosis.
• Taking certain oral contraceptives.

In case of unpleasant symptoms and pain in the mammary glands, which continue for a long time and are accompanied by additional pathological symptoms, a woman should definitely contact her treating gynecologist, who, if necessary, will refer her for consultation and examination with a mammologist and endocrinologist.

Examinations that a woman undergoes for pain in the mammary glands not related to pregnancy:

• Ultrasound of the pelvic organs, which is performed a week after the start of menstruation.
• Study of hormonal levels (thyroid hormones, prolactin).
• Oncological markers (a set of diagnostic procedures to identify the degree of risk of developing cancer tumors in the mammary gland).
• Ultrasound of the breast, which is performed in the second half of the menstrual cycle.

Why might your chest hurt? Real reviews:

Maria:

Several years ago I was diagnosed with fibrous mastopathy. Then I went to the doctor complaining of very severe pain, and this pain was localized not in the mammary glands themselves, but in the armpits and shoulder blades. During the initial examination, the gynecologist felt nodes in the glands and sent me for mammography. During the treatment, I had an ultrasound of the mammary glands and puncture of nodes in the mammary gland. The treatment took place in several stages, with a gynecologist. At the very beginning, I underwent a course of anti-inflammatory treatment, since I also suffered from salpingitis and oophoritis. I was then prescribed hormone therapy using oral contraceptives. As the doctor said, the development of mastopathy could have been influenced by taking oral contraceptives of the old generation, with a high content of hormones.

Hope:

I was diagnosed with mastopathy at the age of 33, and since then I have been under constant supervision of my gynecologist. Every year I had an ultrasound of the mammary glands, and a year ago the doctor suggested I have a mammogram. All these years I have been bothered by very severe chest pains, which were most severe before menstruation. After the mammogram, I was prescribed a comprehensive treatment, which immediately alleviated my condition - I forgot what chest pain was. Currently, nothing is bothering me; the doctor gave me a follow-up appointment only in six months.

Elena:

Throughout my life I have not been bothered by pain in the mammary gland, although sometimes I felt discomfort and tingling before menstruation. But last year I felt at first a slight and then increasing pain in my left chest, which I initially mistook for pain in my heart. Having turned to a therapist, I was examined, received a consultation with a cardiologist - nothing was discovered, they sent me to a gynecologist and mammologist. After undergoing tests for oncological markers and ultrasound of the mammary glands, I was sent to the regional oncology clinic in Chelyabinsk. After a biopsy and additional studies, I was diagnosed with breast cancer (a tumor 3 cm in diameter, with unclear boundaries). As a result, six months ago I had one breast removed, which was affected by cancer, and I underwent courses of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. I am currently undergoing treatment, but the latest examination did not reveal any new cancer cells, which is already a victory.

Natalia:

I have been married for two years, there have been no abortions, no children yet. About a year ago I suffered from a gynecological disease - salpingitis with pyosalpinx. The treatment was taken in a hospital, conservatively. A month after treatment, I began to experience pain symptoms in my left breast. The pain was dull, aching, radiating to the armpit area. The gynecologist did not find anything, but referred me to a mammologist. I had an ultrasound, no pathology was detected in the mammary gland, but pain occurred periodically. I was diagnosed with intercostal neuralgia. I took treatment: Mastodinon, Milgama, Nimesil, Gordius. The pain has become much weaker - sometimes I feel tension in my chest a week before my period, but this goes away quickly. The doctor advised me to go swimming, do exercises, and exercise therapy.

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The condition of the female mammary glands directly depends on the ratio of sex hormones, which constantly changes throughout life. If pain appears in the mammary gland, the woman begins to analyze what it may be associated with and becomes frightened by the accompanying signs. Often the worries turn out to be in vain; the sensations are caused by reasons unrelated to breast diseases. But often a pain reaction is a symptom of pathology in the tissues of the gland, requiring immediate examination.

Content:

Classification of chest pain

When a woman consults a doctor with complaints of painful symptoms in the breast area, the first thing the doctor asks about is the nature of the pain, its duration, frequency, and location. The main feature by which pain arising in the mammary glands is classified is the presence or absence of frequency of their onset.

There are 2 types of painful sensations:

1. Non-cyclical. Their duration and intensity are in no way related to menstruation (for example, pain due to breast bruises, breast disease). Non-cyclical pain most often occurs in one breast, is localized in a specific area, is constant, and can intensify over time.
2. Cyclical. Their occurrence is associated with the production of certain hormones in various phases of the menstrual cycle.

Immediately after menstruation, estrogen levels rise, which leads to the formation of a new egg in the ovary. After about 14 days it matures and ovulation occurs. As a result of fertilization of the egg, a woman becomes pregnant. At this time, the level of progesterone increases, the embryo enters the uterus, and its development begins. Changes occur in the mammary glands, and nagging pain in the chest may occur.

If the egg is not fertilized, then the hormone ratio changes in the opposite direction, leading to the removal of the egg along with the uterine mucosa. Menstruation begins, a process associated with pain both in the uterus and in the mammary gland. After menstruation, they go away if the woman’s health is fine.

Nature of pain

Mastalgia (also called mastodynia) is pain in the mammary gland. It can be stabbing, cutting, shooting, aching, burning, pulsating, constant. The pain may radiate to the shoulder, accompanied by a feeling of chest fullness due to swelling of the soft tissues.

Based on the nature of the sensations, the doctor will make an assumption about the presence of the disease.

Causes of pain

Causes of chest pain may include:

• hormonal processes associated with the menstrual cycle;
• changes in breast tissue during pregnancy;
• breast diseases;
• chest injuries;
• operations on the mammary glands;
• diseases of other organs and systems of the body.

Causes of cyclical pain

PMS (premenstrual syndrome) is one of the main sources of cyclical chest pain. Aching or stabbing pain appears a few days before menstruation and ends after it. Painful sensations are accompanied by swelling of the breasts; touching them becomes painful due to swelling of the tissues.

The occurrence of such a syndrome is associated with various factors: the state of the nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular systems, and metabolic rate. Therefore, the nature and strength of the sensations associated with PMS vary from person to person.

Painful sensations during ovulation (rupture of the follicle and release of the egg). Many women do not feel it.

The intensity of pain can be affected by the anatomical structure and size of the breast. Typically, pain that occurs in the mammary gland due to hormonal changes associated with the menstrual cycle does not require treatment.

Video: Pain in the mammary glands associated with menstruation

Chest pain during pregnancy

Significant hormonal changes are observed in a woman’s body during pregnancy. An increase in prolactin levels leads to an increase in the number of glandular tissue cells, proliferation of the milk ducts and the vascular system. In the mammary gland, preparation for lactation occurs, the volume of the gland increases, pressure on the nerve endings of neighboring tissues increases, which causes pain.

Chest pain during menopause

During menopause, a significant hormonal shift occurs again in a woman’s body. In some cases, this can lead to breast diseases. As a rule, younger women experience menstrual irregularities, for which they consult a doctor. This allows you to notice the symptoms of diseases in a timely manner.

During menopause, menstruation is no longer regular and may disappear altogether. The appearance of chest pain is sometimes the only symptom that reveals a serious illness. Therefore, the occurrence of pain during menopause should alert a woman and force her to go for a check-up with a doctor: a gynecologist, mammologist, endocrinologist.

Diseases that cause chest pain

Sometimes chest pain becomes a concomitant symptom of diseases of other organs. For example, with heart disease, a woman is bothered by aching pain in her left breast. With liver diseases, pain occurs in the hypochondrium and radiates to the right chest.

The source of pain may be neuralgia, inflammation of the intercostal nerve. In this case, the stabbing pain intensifies when breathing, walking, radiates to the back, and depends on the position of the body.

Diseases of the mammary glands as a cause of pain

Mastopathy- pathological proliferation of connective and glandular tissue of the mammary gland with the formation of individual nodes and cystic voids in its tissues. Sometimes discharge from the nipples appears. An aching, dull pain is not always felt immediately; it may appear at a later, dangerous stage of the disease, when mastopathy can degenerate into a malignant tumor.

Video: Pain in the mammary glands with mastopathy

Fibroadenoma- a benign tumor in which painful lumps appear in one or both glands. Usually, when detected, they are removed to prevent them from degenerating into cancer.

Mastitis- infectious inflammation of the mammary glands. Usually occurs during lactation. Cracks that form in the nipples when feeding a baby, as well as stagnation of milk, cause purulent inflammation of the ducts. The process is very painful, accompanied by increased temperature, swelling and redness of the gland. Occurs in one breast or both. Requires treatment with antibiotics or surgery.

Mammary cancer. Pain occurs in various areas of the chest. In the early stages it may not bother a woman. Symptoms of this disease are changes in the structure of the skin of the breast, redness, and the formation of shapeless dense nodes, which gradually become very painful. The burning pain becomes constant, and there is an increase in the axillary lymph nodes, which causes additional pain.

The Importance of Breast Self Examination

Breast pain is very common. If it is associated with menstruation or pregnancy, then most often no treatment is required.

Women should perform breast self-exams regularly. During the reproductive period, it is recommended to do this on the 5-7th day from the beginning of each menstruation, when the breasts are soft. During menopause, when the cycle is disrupted or there is no menstruation at all, breast self-examination is performed once a month on any day. Self-diagnosis is necessary in order to notice the slightest changes in the breast tissue. If pain that is not associated with the cycle occurs, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible, especially when debilitating pain disrupts the normal rhythm of a woman’s life.

Warning: If continuous chest pain lasts more than 2 weeks, if after menstruation (when normally it should not exist) it not only does not disappear, but also intensifies, this may be a sign of a serious illness. The situation deserves special attention when pain appears in one gland or its individual parts.

At-risk groups

The risk of chest pain increases in women in the following cases:

• if they did not give birth at all or gave birth to only 1 child;
• had multiple abortions;
• after childbirth they could not or refused to breastfeed the child;
• are overweight or have large breasts;
• have a hereditary predisposition to breast cancer;
• live an irregular sex life;
• suffer from diabetes mellitus, endocrine diseases;
• suffered chest injuries.

Stress and bad habits increase the likelihood of breast disease and pain.

Diagnosis for chest pain

Palpation. Allows you to carefully examine the condition of the breast manually, detect lumps, tissue swelling, external changes, and violation of the symmetry of the mammary glands. The lymph nodes in the armpit area are also examined.

Ultrasound. Allows you to detect compactions, determine their size and location.

Mammography- X-ray of the breast, which allows us to determine the nature of changes in its tissues and the extent of their distribution.

Ductography- X-ray examination of the milk ducts, into which a radiopaque substance is released.

Biopsy. The tissue of the seal removed during the operation is selected and examined under a microscope. This allows you to accurately determine the nature of the lesion and make a prognosis regarding the further development of the disease.

Pneumocystography. It is a type of biopsy. The contents of a cyst or tumor are collected using a long, thin needle.