Pain radiating to the mammary gland. Breast pain in women - normal or dangerous disease

Ovulation is the process of the release of an egg into the lumen of the fallopian tube from the ovary. In this case, most often women experience discomfort and some pain in the lower abdomen. This is understandable, but many also note pain in the chest area. Why is this happening? Do I need to urgently go to the doctor or is the condition normal?

Why do my breasts hurt during ovulation?

In gynecology and mammology, there is a special term that defines the soreness of the mammary glands during the period of ovulation. I call this condition cyclic mastodynia. Experts consider this condition to be normal for the female body.

In order to understand why this happens, you should know why a monthly cycle is needed and what specific changes occur in a woman’s body. Ovulation occurs approximately in the middle of the menstrual cycle (somewhere in the second week after the end of the last menstruation). Physiologically, it is characterized by the rupture of the follicle with a mature egg and its release from the ovary. At the same time, an increase in the level of progesterone, the female sex hormone, is observed in the blood. This phase is called the luteal phase.

What is progesterone responsible for?

Progesterone in the female body is responsible for the possibility of fertilization and prepares the expectant mother for a possible pregnancy. First of all, the uterus directly experiences its influence. The epithelium on it begins to grow and prepare for implantation of a fertilized egg.

The hormonal surge does not go unnoticed by other target organs. The mammary gland is one of them. Pregnancy involves a further lactation period - feeding the baby with breast milk. When progesterone levels increase, the production of prolactin, the hormone responsible for preparing the mammary gland for feeding, is stimulated. There is fluid retention in the glandular tissue, which the woman observes on the scales (weight fluctuations from one and a half to three kilograms during the day). The mammary gland stretches, noticeably increases in size, and swells. Pressure irritates pain nerve receptors and vascular bundles. Impaired vascular patency leads to increased permeability and even greater swelling of the mammary gland due to flooding of connective tissue. All this leads to a feeling of discomfort and pain in the chest.

Why do my breasts hurt after ovulation?

After ovulation, progesterone and prolactin levels remain high for some time, which is considered the best time to conceive a child. Then, 3-4 days before the start of menstruation, the pain subsides, the hormonal balance is rebuilt. With the onset of menstruation there should be no pain in the mammary gland.

If fertilization has occurred, the pain does not subside and may even intensify. In this case, it makes sense to take a test to determine a possible pregnancy. If the test does not give results, and the discomfort persists, you should contact a specialist and undergo diagnostics to rule out possible pathology.

Why do my breasts hurt before ovulation?

In the first phase of the female cycle, the hormone estrogen is synthesized. During puberty, it causes the appearance of sexual characteristics in girls, including the growth of mammary glands. This process is accompanied by pain.

After the regulation of hormonal changes and the end of puberty after menstruation, pain in the mammary glands should disappear before ovulation. Sometimes discomfort in the gland area appears 3-4 days before the follicle ruptures. This is associated with a hormonal imbalance: there is still a lot of estrogen, but progesterone levels begin to rise.

If your stomach and chest hurt after ovulation

After ovulation has occurred, pain in the area of ​​the mammary glands persists, but it has a dull, aching character that causes discomfort. If there is an increase in pain against the background of soreness in the abdominal area, there is a high probability of pregnancy.

During the period of ovulation itself, pain in the lower abdomen is natural. This is due to the fact that rupture of the follicle itself is an injury, which is accompanied by cramping pain, may be accompanied by a feeling of nausea, and sometimes vomiting. At this time, a woman may feel weak and fatigued. After the egg begins its “journey” through the fallopian tube into the uterine cavity, the pain subsides and the condition returns to normal.

As soon as fertilization has occurred, the probability of which remains high for the first 48 hours after ovulation has occurred, the egg is implanted into the endometrium - the mucous layer at the bottom of the uterus. This process may be accompanied not only by pain, but also by bloody discharge from the vagina.

Nipple pain during ovulation

Before the release of the egg, a release of estrogen is observed in the blood, which in turn stimulates the pituitary gland to release luteinizing hormone. After ovulation, the so-called corpus luteum remains at the site of the burst follicle. It is this formation that produces progesterone.

On the 14th day, the increased concentration of female estrogen and the insufficient amount of progesterone at that time cause the characteristic symptoms of cyclic mastodynia:

• nagging pain in the mammary gland;
• increased sensitivity of the nipples;
• increase and swelling of the organ in size;
• symmetrical lesion.

The majority of nerve endings are concentrated in the nipples. When gland tissue grows under the influence of progesterone, compression of the vascular bundles occurs. The impact is transmitted to the nerve endings - the woman feels pain in the nipples. It happens that patients note increased sensitivity and discomfort in the nipples. In this case, the breast tissue changes slightly.

Hormonal imbalance and the appearance of pain during ovulation can be caused by stress, previous abortion or miscarriage, and inflammation of the thoracic spine.

Another cause of nipple pain is lack of sex. The oversaturation of the body with hormones in the middle of the cycle does not find the proper release, so the substances are sent to target organs, where they produce corresponding symptoms.

Swelling and pain in the nipples may worsen when taking oral contraceptives. The cause is an incorrectly selected drug, a violation of medication intake, or an insufficient or excessive dosage. Consultation with a specialist and a decision on further tactics are required.

How to alleviate the condition?

There are a number of techniques that can improve a woman’s general condition.

1. The easiest way to reduce pain is a shower or bath. Warm water dilates blood vessels and relieves swelling of the mammary gland. Additionally, you can use aromatherapy. Soothing scents will help eliminate tension, which somewhat reduces the concentration of prolactin, which is a stress hormone.
2. It is recommended to perform self-massage. Movements should be light and sliding. Squeezing and pressing on the mammary gland is contraindicated. Edema tissues react extremely painfully to such manipulations.
3. During the period of ovulation, it is advisable to avoid sunbathing and hypothermia. It is not recommended to apply ice compresses.
4. An important aspect of treatment is proper nutrition. During the period of ovulation, it is necessary to exclude coffee, carbonated and alcoholic drinks, chocolate, table salt, fatty and fried foods from the diet. It is possible to consume vitamins A, B, C and E both with food and as a medicinal supplement.
5. Phytotherapy. Traditional methods of treatment are aimed at calming the nervous system and relieving increased vascular tone. Tea and infusion based on mint, calendula, and chamomile can reduce discomfort.
6. The patient should refrain from wearing compressive synthetic underwear, which further leads to swelling and pain. The bra should support, not compress, the breasts.
7. For severe pain, you can take antispasmodics and painkillers.

How many days will it take for the pain to go away?

The time frame for the disappearance of discomfort is purely individual. The duration largely depends on the level of hormones, receptor excitability and the patient’s pain threshold. Typically, pain accompanies a woman only during the “window of conception.” This is the time period of the hormonal surge of estrogen and LH, leading to ovulation, as well as the period of egg viability of 48 hours. If pregnancy does not occur, pain gradually decreases and becomes rare and local.

Generally, discomfort during ovulation is minor and rarely leads to loss of performance. In some cases, PMS occurs on the eve of menstruation. During this period, there is a repeated increase in sensitivity and swelling of the mammary glands. When bleeding occurs, swelling and pain disappear. This is an absolutely natural process that does not need correction.

Is chest pain during ovulation always normal?

In addition to physiological pain, the appearance of discomfort in the mammary glands may indicate the development of pathology.

1. Fibrocystic mastopathy most often masquerades as normal. There is a proliferation of connective tissue in the chest. A characteristic feature of the pathology is the appearance of pain in the nipples during the period of ovulation, with a peak before the onset of bleeding. The gland swells, the sensitivity of the nipple increases. Discharge and nodes may appear upon palpation of the organ.
2. Hormonal imbalance may occur in polycystic ovary syndrome, thyroid pathology, endometriosis. Pathologies cause an increase in estrogen: the mammary gland enlarges and becomes sensitive. Endometriosis is characterized by discomfort in the nipple and areola area.
3. In addition, the appearance of a benign or malignant tumor of the breast tissue is possible. Incipient cancer is usually accompanied by a change in the color, shape, size of the nipple or the gland itself. Characterized by increased sensitivity and unilateral damage.
4. Mastitis. An inflammatory disease that often occurs during lactation. A special feature is the obvious signs of microbial damage: temperature, swelling, redness, soreness of the gland tissue.

To clarify the exact diagnosis, consultation with a specialist and additional examination are required.

When should you see a doctor?

It is quite difficult to draw the line between normal pain sensations and pathological ones. However, if certain signs appear that indicate diseases of the reproductive system, it is recommended to consult a specialist. These symptoms include:

• severe, unbearable pain;
• damage to one breast;
• discomfort does not go away 3-4 days after ovulation;
• the appearance of purulent, ichorous discharge from the nipple;
• fever, redness, swelling;
• itching, burning;
• the appearance of a rash;
• cracks, nipple erosion;
• thickening of the gland;
• causeless weight loss, weakness.

Early diagnosis helps prevent serious consequences. The best prevention of disease development is a regular annual visit to the gynecologist with an ultrasound of the pelvis and mammary glands. Additional advice if symptoms occur or during pregnancy.

It is extremely important for a woman to know her menstrual cycle. It’s better to keep a calendar, mark not only the end and beginning of your period, but also write down all your sensations. Painful sensations in the mammary glands during ovulation are physiological in nature. However, we should not forget that in some cases the pathology may be hidden behind minor, ignored complaints. If necessary, do not delay visiting a gynecologist. A woman's reproductive well-being guarantees healthy offspring.

If a woman has pain in one breast, but almost no pain or discomfort is felt in the other, then this should alert you and be a reason to consult a mammologist. But first, find out all the possible causes of this symptom.

The female mammary gland has a complex structure and is represented by several types of tissue: fatty, connective and glandular. If their ratio is violated under the influence of various factors, some changes may be observed, including those accompanied by unpleasant symptoms. The structure often changes under the influence of hormones, because the female breast is a hormone-dependent organ. And the background can undergo changes not only due to diseases or pathologies, but also in different phases of the cycle.

Most women experience pain or discomfort in the mammary glands before menstruation and are one of the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). But in this case, two breasts are involved in the process at once, because hormones affect them almost equally. If only one breast hurts, this most likely indicates some pathology or disorder. Therefore, if such a sign is detected, you should visit a doctor.

The most common causes of pain

The reasons why one breast may become sore are very diverse. But the most common are the following:

• Mastopathy. This benign disease is diagnosed in approximately 70-80% of women and is characterized by pathological changes in the ratio of tissues and disturbances in the structure of the mammary glands. Moreover, two breasts can be involved in the pathological process at once, but unpleasant or painful sensations are sometimes observed only in one, which is associated with differences in structure and structural changes. Thus, in one mammary gland benign neoplasms or pathologically overgrown areas of tissue may be found, compressing the nerve endings and causing pain.
• Mastitis often develops in lactating women due to stagnation of milk and the inflammation of the mammary gland provoked by it. And if stagnation is observed in only one breast, then the symptoms will affect only that one.
• Cyst. Such a neoplasm is a fluid-filled cavity, is benign in nature and is usually localized in only one gland. Cysts are not always accompanied by pain and are sometimes discovered by chance during a routine examination. But if the tumor is significant in size and compresses the nerve endings, then pain may well occur.
• Fibroadenoma is a tumor that is also benign in nature and is formed from connective and glandular tissues when their relationship is disturbed. If a fibroadenoma grows to a significant size, it can cause discomfort and cause the development of symptoms such as pain, a feeling of fullness or heaviness.
• Breast cancer. Unfortunately, this type of cancer is not rare. In the early stages, it hardly makes itself felt, but as the tumor grows, alarming symptoms may arise, for example, a feeling of fullness or heaviness, pain, hyperemia, pathological discharge from the nipple, changes in the size and shape of the mammary gland.
• Mechanical damage. Even one minor blow that you immediately forgot about can lead to bruising and damage to the breast tissue and cause pain. By the way, mechanical influences include wearing incorrectly selected underwear, which provokes compression of individual areas or the entire breast.

Rare causes of pain in one breast

Here are some less common reasons why one breast may hurt:

• Stretching the pectoral muscles. It is quite possible if a woman plays sports or has performed complex physical work without special training. With sprains, the pain, as a rule, is aching and intensifies during muscle activation, that is, when moving the arms, especially sharp ones.
• Fat necrosis is a fairly rare condition that occurs due to significant damage in the absence of timely treatment. Pain will not be the only symptom; others will join it: changes in the structure and color of the skin, hyperemia, distension.
• Lung diseases. Since the respiratory organs are located in the chest, they can also lead to chest pain. But they can be distinguished from symptoms caused by changes in the structure and structure of the mammary glands. So, with palpation the sensations do not intensify, but they can arise and become more pronounced during deep breaths, with sudden raising of the arms and other movements, as well as with coughing. And although the pain is often accompanied by the formation of sputum, tickling and coughing, in some cases such signs are absent or appear to a minor extent. For example, pneumonia can be virtually asymptomatic and accompanied only by barely noticeable discomfort.
• If one breast hurts, especially when changing body position or sudden movements, then the cause of this symptom may be intercostal neuralgia. This condition develops as a result of irritation or compression of the nerve fibers and endings located between the ribs. Neuralgia can be caused by diseases of the spine or joints, stress, intense exercise and other factors. It manifests itself in the form of sharp shooting pains, which usually occur when bending, turning, raising the arms and trying to change position.

Diagnostic measures

If you notice pain in one mammary gland, then you should not expect it to disappear on its own and without intervention. You should consult a mammologist as soon as possible and undergo an examination to find out the causes of the pain. Some neoplasms can be palpated, but more informative diagnostic procedures are required to clarify and make an accurate diagnosis.

To determine the causes of pain, diagnostic measures such as mammography, ultrasound of the mammary glands, radiography, ductography (a study with the introduction of contrast agents into the milk ducts), blood tests, as well as puncture or biopsy to differentiate detected tumors may be prescribed.

Treatment of pain is aimed primarily at eliminating the causes of the symptom and directly depends on them. In some cases, conservative therapy is sufficient; sometimes a specialist chooses a wait-and-see approach without intervention, and sometimes surgery is required to remove tumors. Pain in one breast should alert you and be a reason to contact a mammologist. Take care of your health and do not delay visiting a specialist.

Diseases of the mammary glands are very diverse and are characterized by numerous clinical manifestations: pain, including when pressed, changes in the general appearance of the glands, the shape or structure of the glands (the appearance of compactions, tumor-like formations in usually soft tissue).

Pain in one or both mammary glands (mastalgia) is one of the common complaints in women of any age, but young women with preserved menstrual function face this problem somewhat more often.

Most women's concerns are related to the risk of developing breast cancer. However, isolated pain is rarely a sign of this terrible disease, which is usually characterized by the concomitant presence of a tumor formation.

Causes of pain in one or both mammary glands:

* Hormonal changes during puberty (called puberty), as well as during pregnancy or menopause
* Premenstrual syndrome
*Breast cancer
*Breastfeeding
* Infectious diseases of the mammary glands (mastitis, breast abscess)
* Breast trauma, including surgical treatment
* Taking certain medications: estrogen-containing drugs, digoxin, methyldopa, spironolactone, oxymetholone and chlorpromazine.

Main clinical options:

1. Cyclic mastalgia – pain associated with the menstrual cycle.

This type of violation is characterized by:

* The appearance of pain in the premenstrual period and weakening or disappearing with the onset of menstruation. Sometimes there is no clear connection with the onset of menstruation
* Usually bilateral localization, mainly in the upper, outer areas of the mammary glands
* Varying intensity of painful sensations - from dull, aching (more often) to pronounced, making it difficult to move your arms and sleep
* Pain may radiate to the armpits or arm
* During the examination, slight lumpiness of the mammary gland tissue may be detected.
* The severity of clinical manifestations usually increases with age and sharply weakens or disappears after menopause.

The occurrence of cyclic mastalgia is associated with changes in hormonal levels. This type of disorder affects more than 2/3 of women, usually of young reproductive age, although similar complaints are known in postmenopausal women receiving hormonal replacement therapy.

2. Acyclic mastalgia - the occurrence of chest pain not associated with the menstrual cycle. This type of disorder usually affects women over 40 years of age.

Characteristic:

* Pain is often one-sided
* Localization – mainly in the middle part of the mammary gland, around the nipple
* Sharp, burning, cutting pain
*Can be either periodic or permanent

Localized, long-lasting pain in the mammary gland may be associated with the presence of a fibroadenoma (benign tumor) or cyst. However, in order to exclude more serious causes of acyclic mastalgia (for example, breast cancer), it is recommended to contact a specialist as early as possible.

3. Mastitis and other infectious diseases. In addition to local symptoms (pain, redness, swelling of the mammary gland), they are accompanied by symptoms of intoxication (fever, sometimes with chills, headache, loss of appetite, general weakness, etc.). Mastitis often occurs in the postpartum period due to the penetration of pathogens through microcracks in the nipple and stagnation in the milk gland.

4. Breast cancer. In addition to pain sensations of varying degrees (but they may be absent!) it is characterized by the presence of a tumor-like formation with unclear contours, most often in the upper outer areas of the mammary gland; changes in the skin over the tumor in the form of wrinkling or “orange peel”, retraction of the nipple or discharge from it are possible . The risk of developing breast cancer is higher in nulliparous women or women who gave birth to their first child late, in women with a hereditary predisposition, in women with excess body weight, and in the presence of mastopathy.

A mandatory diagnostic measure is breast self-examination. It should become part of the life routine of all women over the age of 20. Regular self-examination will allow you to become familiar with the shape and structure of your mammary glands and easily identify any changes in them. Self-examination should be carried out once a month, preferably at the end of each menstruation or at the same time in postmenopausal women.

Self-examination rules:

* stand in front of the mirror
* first examine the mammary glands from the front and sides in 4 positions:
o with hands down
o with raised hands
o with hands placed on hips
o when bending the torso forward
* raising your left hand, use your right hand to gently feel the entire left mammary gland in a circular motion from top to bottom
*similarly, but with your left hand, feel the right mammary gland
* lie on your back, placing a cushion under your right shoulder and placing your right hand behind your head. Using the straight fingers of your left hand, feel the right mammary gland from the periphery to the nipple
* examine the left breast in the same way with your right hand
* gently squeeze the nipple to ensure there is no abnormal discharge
* feel the armpits.

Contact your doctor if you find:

* change in shape, size or asymmetry of the breast
* tissue compaction in the breast or armpit
* nipple retraction
* nipple discharge
* changes in the skin of the breast (redness, wrinkling, “orange” or “lemon peel” type)

What should a woman with mastalgia do?

2. Annual consultation with a mammologist (a specialist in diseases of the mammary glands), gynecologist or oncologist - primarily women over 35 years of age.

3. Women over 35 years of age (especially those at risk of developing breast cancer) are recommended to undergo annual mammography, an X-ray method for examining the mammary glands. Mammography is one of the methods for early diagnosis of breast cancer.

4. Other diagnostic methods include ultrasound, targeted biopsy of suspicious areas of breast tissue.

In most women with mastalgia, breast examination and mammography results are normal. In this case, the diagnosis of breast cancer is unlikely and pain is most likely associated with changes in the mammary glands against the background of physiological hormonal fluctuations.

Treatment

In 60-80% of cases, pain in the mammary gland, in the absence of seals in its tissue, goes away on its own.
However, severe pain that interferes with your daily activities, lasts more than a few days each month, or the presence of symptoms indicating an inflammatory process (fever, redness and swelling of the breast, pain when pressing) requires treatment.

To date, there is no sufficient scientific data on the effectiveness of therapeutic measures for cyclic mastalgia.

Wearing a suitable bra, a low-fat diet and limiting the diet of foods containing methylxanthines (for example, caffeine-containing products), and taking vitamins B and E are recommended. Although the effectiveness of dietary measures and taking vitamins remains unproven, cases of pain relief have been described in some women who adhere to these recommendations.

If these measures are ineffective, consult a doctor, because... It may be necessary to prescribe oral contraceptives or danazol (an antigonadotropic drug) to correct hormonal imbalances. Avoid self-medication, including herbal preparations.

Treatment of acyclic mastalgia is based on the treatment of the underlying disease. If the cause is not established, a treatment plan is used as for cyclic mastalgia.

When a cyst or tumor is detected, surgical treatment is used, which can be supplemented with radiation or chemotherapy if the tumor is malignant.

Treatment of mastitis, depending on the stage and severity of the process, includes antibiotic therapy with/or without surgical opening of the inflammatory focus.

Dear women, remember that your breasts can not only be a perfect creation of Nature, but also a source of health-related problems. Therefore, if pain occurs and/or changes in the shape, size and consistency of the mammary glands, contact a specialist. This will help preserve your health, and in some cases, your life!

Any woman at one time or another in her life experiences chest pain. The appearance of pain in the mammary glands is not a reason for panic, but you should not take this condition lightly. To be calm about your health, every woman needs to be able to recognize the symptoms, consult a doctor on time, and undergo timely diagnosis.

Types of breast pain

When a woman has pain in the mammary gland, the sensations range from slight discomfort to severe bloating and painful burning, which significantly reduces the quality of life. The doctor’s primary task is to determine the type and cause of pain in order to prescribe adequate treatment. The largest number of complaints comes before the onset of menstruation. This is due to the cyclic changes in the female body that occur during pregnancy or after menopause, at the onset of menstrual syndrome or a week before the onset of menstruation.

Non-cyclic mastalgia or mastodynia (breast tenderness) can occur due to mechanical expansion of tissue by a benign or malignant tumor, local edema, excessive irritation of receptors by pathological nerve impulses, microcirculation disorders or other factors. Non-cyclic mastalgia does not depend on the level of sex hormones and does not change throughout the ovarian-menstrual cycle.

Nature of pain in the mammary gland

Pain or discomfort in the chest does not always indicate pathological disorders. Often this symptom manifests itself during temporary hormonal disharmony of the female body. Less commonly, pain in the mammary glands is a consequence of sclerotic or inflammatory processes in the glandular tissue, a consequence of operations and injuries, or the development of neoplasms. Based on the nature of the pain syndrome, pain is divided into:

• acute;
• dull;
• stabbing,
• pulsating;
• burning;
• shooting;
• cutting;
• aching-pulling.

Causes of pain in the mammary gland

Although most often chest pain in women is a normal biological process, sometimes it is a consequence of the manifestation of a disease. More often, pain is noted with mastitis and diffuse fibrocystic mastopathy. Less commonly, the mammary gland hurts when touched due to diseases such as herpes zoster (viral infectious pathology), Mondor's disease (superficial thrombophlebitis) and others.

Sometimes pain is caused by diseases of the heart or spine. For example, pain in the left mammary gland in women occurs when walking or inhaling, often accompanied by nausea - this is angina pectoris, hypertension or rheumatic carditis. Also, mental disorders (cancer phobia and others) become the cause of functional discomfort in the chest. Soreness also manifests itself after mechanical damage - compression or a strong blow leads to a violation of the integrity of the mammary glands. Extensive hematomas strongly compress the surrounding tissues, which leads to severe pain.

During pregnancy

A pregnant woman's breasts undergo multiple changes: they become sensitive, painful, enlarged, and the nipples change color. Sometimes it starts to itch and itch due to stretching of the skin or due to increased progesterone hormone. All these changes are considered normal. If during pregnancy the mammary gland hardens, changes color, becomes very painful, increases unevenly, and blood is released from the nipples, then an urgent consultation with a mammologist is required.

During menopause

Pain in the mammary gland with pressure, deep palpation, and even when wearing a tight bra can be observed during menopause. Mastalgia during menopause is manifested by the following symptoms:

• distension or heaviness in both or one mammary gland without clear localization;
• prolonged pain of a burning, burning, aching nature;
• short-term acute pain (cutting, stabbing);
• an increase in the volume of one or both glands, swelling;
• excessive sensitivity or mild pain when pressing.

Intercostal neuralgia

Damage to the nerves between the ribs, which is accompanied by acute pain, is called intercostal neuralgia. The disease is accompanied by paroxysmal burning or shooting pain in one or several places, depending on the location. Solar plexus neuralgia is usually accompanied by breast tenderness. Breast pain in the attachment area. Upon examination, the gynecologist does not find any pathological changes or signs of any female diseases.

If, in addition to tenderness of the mammary glands, cervicothoracic osteochondrosis, muscle tone and/or curvature of the spine are observed, then these symptoms indicate intercostal neuralgia of the thoracic region. With this pathology, a woman may feel pain in one mammary gland, but upon careful examination it turns out that the pain comes from the vertebral region of the back, localized under the scapula on the right. This is a sign of intercostal pinching of the nerves of the thoracic spine.

Mastopathy

The disease is characterized not only by pain, but also by the presence of lumps in the mammary gland. As mastopathy develops, the pain becomes prolonged and severe. The most intense pain syndrome is observed during PMS, during menstruation and during palpation of the breast. The main causes of acute pain are the proliferation of connective tissue or blockage of the ducts.

Pain due to mastopathy may vary depending on the type of pathology. With diffuse changes in breast tissue due to their proliferation, the pain has the character of compression, intensifies with PMS, and after the end of the cycle significantly decreases or disappears altogether. With nodular mastopathy, the following symptoms are observed:

• pain does not go away throughout the menstrual cycle;
• discomfort is felt in the armpits, back, shoulder, forearm area;
• The nipple area becomes painful.

Fibroadenoma

A benign neoplasm located in the mammary gland is called fibroadenoma. The tumor is of glandular origin, and its structure is dominated by connective tissue. What distinguishes benign fibroadenoma from a malignant neoplasm is that the pathology is not accompanied by severe pain and often does not manifest itself at all.

The back and other parts of the body also do not hurt. With fibroadenoma, there is no swelling, hyperemia or weakness. The neoplasm is easily palpable and remains unchanged in any phase of the menstrual cycle. If the fibroadenoma begins to hurt, its structure has changed (there are no clear boundaries, thickening, etc.) or the breast is swollen, this is a reason to urgently consult a doctor.

Mastitis

The inflammatory process in the tissues of the mammary gland is called mastitis. Pathology occurs more often due to staphylococcal infection. Bacteria enter the soft tissue of the breast through the milk ducts or through the bloodstream when a woman performs poor hygiene standards. Mastitis is often the result of milk stagnation during lactation. Among nursing mothers, the incidence ranges from 1 to 16%, depending on place of residence.

Mastitis is manifested by painful thickening in the gland, peeling and increased skin temperature at the site of inflammation, redness, fever, and general symptoms of intoxication (appetite disturbance, dizziness, weakness, migraine). As the disease progresses, the pain intensifies and the chest becomes hot to the touch. When expressing, the pain increases, pus and bloody discharge are found in the milk. Purulent mastitis can progress, after which an abscess develops.

Abscess

Pathology occurs after bacteria penetrate the nipple through cracks or other deformation. The causative agent of the abscess is streptococci or staphylococci. Sometimes staphylococcal infection is combined with E. coli or Proteus. The first signs of an abscess are fever, high temperature. The gland increases in size, becomes denser, and becomes extremely painful, so the woman cannot use it for feeding. When the inflammatory process spreads to adjacent areas of the chest, the skin swells and turns red - this forms a visible abscess (abscess).

Cancer

According to statistics, 3% of women who find a moving, painful ball in the breast are diagnosed with cancer. Pain occurs after ordinary movements or palpation due to the effect on the nerve endings of the tumor. As cancer grows, healthy tissue is gradually displaced, and the cancer covers an even larger volume of nerves. Breast tenderness is a sign of cancer. It manifests itself in different ways:

• sudden severe pain that limits physical activity;
• prolonged moderate or mild pain;
• penetrating pain with increasing intensity for half an hour.

Other causes of chest pain

Pain in the mammary glands in women can have a non-trivial cause, after which the discomfort goes away. The chest can be injured during sudden braking of a car or hurt after excessive physical activity. Causes of pain not related to disease:

• tight underwear;
• treatment of the thyroid gland with hormonal drugs;
• osteochondrosis;
• inflammation of the lymph nodes;
• long-term use of oral contraceptives.

Risk groups for breast diseases

Risk factors for the development of periodic pain in the mammary gland include environmental hazards, emotional balance, lack of constant sex life, and others.

There are many reasons why breasts hurt. It must be said that all women have to deal with pain in the mammary gland, more than once during their lives; moreover, this fate has not spared even men. This is due to the fact that the mammary gland is a hormone-dependent organ that reacts violently to any changes in hormonal regulation; moreover, it is also one of the most productive external secretion glands in humans; during lactation the mammary glands are capable of secreting up to 300-400 liters of milk depending on the duration of the breastfeeding period.

In this article, we will look at the causes of pain in the mammary gland at different periods of life, and especially note the symptoms that should cause you concern and force you to see a doctor.

Puberty or why girls have breast pain

The onset of puberty in girls occurs at the age of 9-12 years, and is accompanied by a sharp increase in the level of hormones - estrogen - in the blood. These are female sex hormones, under the influence of which secondary sexual characteristics are formed, including breast growth.

Your daughter, if you have a trusting relationship, may well come up to you with the question of why her breasts hurt when you touch her, and why they are swollen. The process is called thelarche, and may initially be one-sided, for example, only the right breast hurts.

Pain occurs due to stretching of the mammary gland capsule as it rapidly enlarges. Glandular tissue grows very quickly, but the connective tissue partitions between the lobules of the gland and the fascia of the mammary gland cannot stretch so quickly. Adult women experience approximately the same sensations; if they wear a bra that is too tight, the compressed mammary gland becomes painful, which is why teenage breasts hurt. Later everything returns to normal.

An interesting fact is that during puberty, boys also have a moment when a hormonal storm in the body is reflected in the glandular tissue of the mammary gland, the breasts temporarily enlarge and become painful, just like in girls. The reason is still the same, the glandular tissue reacts to hormones, which is why a teenager has chest pain, and there is no need to be afraid of this phenomenon. Usually this lasts from several months to a year and a half, and then goes away without consequences, only in rare cases the mammary glands remain enlarged in an adult man.

Reproductive period, menstruation and breast pain

It’s clear why women’s breasts hurt due to changes in the menstrual cycle; there is a constant cyclic change in hormonal levels, and the breasts simply cannot help but react to this.

The reason why breasts hurt before menstruation is an increase in the level of progesterone in a woman’s blood. Progesterone is responsible not only for maintaining a possible pregnancy, but also for changes in a woman’s body that are necessary for bearing and feeding a child. Since the mammary glands are needed specifically for milk production, under the influence of progesterone produced after ovulation, the amount of glandular tissue in the breast increases, it becomes hard and painful. Not everyone has breast pain before menstruation; there are simply particularly sensitive women who suffer from the so-called premenstrual syndrome or have mastopathy. High levels of progesterone explain why breasts hurt during menstruation, but these pains, like pain after menstruation, are no longer the norm and require the attention of a doctor.

Sexual arousal and orgasm in a woman cause the release of hormones; some women experience a distinct erection of the nipples. This reaction, both reflexive and hormonal, during sexual intercourse is the reason why the chest hurts after sex. This undesirable effect is enhanced by the partner’s excessive attention to this sensitive and tender part of the body; rough caresses of the breasts are dangerous.

Why do breasts hurt during pregnancy?

Pain in the mammary glands is one of the. This phenomenon is so typical for the period of bearing a child that the absence of changes in the breasts or the disappearance of pain is symptomatic for the doctor regarding the pathology of pregnancy, for example, one of the reasons why the breasts suddenly stopped hurting during early pregnancy may be or.

During gestation, the mammary glands undergo enormous changes. Under the influence of pregnancy hormones, glandular tissue grows rapidly, the breasts increase in several sizes in a short time, such rapid growth is accompanied by stretching of the mammary capsule, which is why the breasts hurt during pregnancy, and of course, they become very dense and sensitive, and the skin often itches (risk ).

Changes also occur in the nipples. Rapid stretching of the breast skin leads to overstretching of the areolas, and the skin here is very sensitive. The milk ducts grow, the nipples themselves increase in size, and of course, the fact that the phenomenon is completely normal and common. It must be said that not all pregnant women have breast pain, and not necessarily in the first trimester. You may only experience pain in the last few weeks, or just at the very beginning, this is a very individual matter. But in any case, pain is a signal that special care is needed; you need a good soft bra for pregnant women.

Even if the pregnancy is terminated for one reason or another, pain in the mammary glands may persist for some time. The body needs time for the hormonal balance to be restored, which is why for several days even after this, the breasts may still hurt and other signs of pregnancy may persist.

Why do breastfeeding women hurt?

indicate the beginning of lactation, which is accompanied by a rush of milk and a sharp increase in breast size, sometimes by 2 sizes at once. Of course, this is very individual, there are naturally non-breastfeeding women who do not know what breastfeeding is at all, but in most cases it is a common occurrence in the first days after childbirth.

Then the milk production and the baby’s needs for it become equalized, and the pain no longer bothers.

There are 2 reasons why a nursing mother’s breasts hurt:

A rush of milk, stretching the lobules of the mammary gland and lactostasis. This is a dull pain, localized mostly on the sides of the mammary glands, where the lobules empty less easily during feeding. Releasing the breast during feeding and pumping leads to a feeling of relief, but at the same time, pain in the already emptied lobes of the mammary gland may persist, since overstretching them traumatizes, which is why the breast hurts after feeding. Even the process of milk release during lactostasis can be accompanied by painful sensations; the breasts hurt during feeding.

The second reason is dangerous: mastitis, inflammation of the mammary gland. Redness of the breast area, pain and hardness that do not go away despite feeding, and increased body temperature indicate this complication, which without timely help usually requires surgical intervention.

Why women's breasts hurt - dangerous reasons

Women's breasts sometimes hurt not because of physiological changes; the reasons can be dangerous to health.

Mastopathy is the most common and most “harmless” of these causes. With mastopathy, fibrous changes occur in the mammary glands, the breasts react violently to the usual cyclical changes in a woman’s body, upon examination you can find numerous lumps, and discharge from the nipples is possible. With mastopathy, both breasts most often hurt, but the process can also be one-sided, on the left or right.

Fibromas, fibroadenomas, are found even in young girls who are not sexually active. These changes, inherently precancerous, occur against the background of untreated mastopathy.

Breast cancer. There is no need to explain the danger of this disease; it is a rather aggressive type of cancer, for which early diagnosis is very important.

If you periodically or constantly have engorged breasts and severe pain, if there is pain in only one mammary gland, if there is discharge from the nipples, and you know that you are not pregnant, these symptoms are a reason to visit a mammologist. Regular self-examination of the breast is necessary, and if detected, you should also consult a doctor.