Healthytalk8 Breast pain during periods is the most common, and common reason for breast pain, and every woman face breast pain in their life.
There are several reasons for BP, which impact women’s quality of life, including – hormonal imbalance, injury, infection, etc (1)
Periods are a natural part of women’s reproductive system, which occurs every month by releasing eggs from the ovary.
Breast pain not only occurs during periods but also occur before the period (premenstrual), resulting in PMS (premenstrual syndrome)
Periods and breast pain impact the body in several ways which include:
- Discomfort, and pain
- cramps, irritation, and anger issue is common during periods
- swelling, tenderness, lump, and redness also occur while breast pain
- difficulty in sleeping and exercise
- interfere with daily life routine
Mental issues are also seen like stress and anxiety, which may worsen breast pain and period situations.
The pain can be mild to severe, if the pain is intolerable then you should talk to the doctor, as it may be some other health issue sign (2) (3)
So in this article, we will stamp on breast pain and periods about everything like why this happens, and treatment.
Breast Pain and Menstrual Cycle
Contents
Breast pain during the menstrual cycle is common among women, which happens due to hormonal imbalances in the body during periods.
Mastalgia (breast pain) mostly happens before and during periods, and pregnancy, and with other breast-related issues like:
- Swelling
- redness or red nerve lines on the breast
- tenderness
- soreness
- breast become more sensitive
- lumps
- dull and severe pain even may occur in one boob
The menstrual cycle is a natural and essential part of a woman’s life, where various things happen in a woman’s body:
- Menstrual bleeding
- hormonal changes
- uterine contractions
- changes in body temperature
- release of an egg from the ovary
It happens every month, but in some women, this cycle comes earlier and later, due to several reasons like an unhealthy lifestyle. (4)
Pain, cramps, anger, mood swings, bloating, and tenderness are commonly seen symptoms that occur every month of periods.
So it is vital to maintain hygiene in private areas and decompose sanitary items properly, also talk to the doctor, if experience other health issues.
Check-Period Hacks: Which Can Save You From Being Embarrassed
Common Reasons For Breast Pain During, and Before Periods
There are several reasons for breast pain during and before the menstrual cycle, but hormonal changes are the most common reason for it.
But how do hormonal changes lead to breast pain during and premenstrual cycle? due to estrogen and progesterone hormone (5)
These two main hormones are responsible for periods, pregnancy, breast pain, and even in menopause, but how?
During periods estrogen and progesterone levels increase, which makes breast tissue more sensitive, and large, which leads to pain (6)
Now, progesterone makes another change in the breast by making the breast swollen and holding water on the breast, that responsible for BP.
Most women often felt the upper outer part of the breast, and sometimes in the arm on the same side as the breast (7)
However, there are other several reasons for Breast pain which include:
- Medications also contain estrogen and progesterone also imbalance hormones
- surgery
- breast injury
- unhealthy lifestyle
- unsupportive bra
- alcohol, and smoking (8)
- some medical conditions related to breasts like fibrocystic breasts, and costochondritis
- excessive caffeine intake
Premenstrual hormonal changes happen, leading to breast pain, which is still imbalanced during periods.
Studies have shown that breast pain is allied with symptoms of breast cancer, but only 0.5 to 2% of patients are diagnosed with cancer.
If you experience severe pain then consult the doctor, it might be some other breast-related matter or sign of any early disease.
Symptoms of Breast Pain During Periods
During periods and before periods women can see several symptoms related to breast pain, which include:
- Breast tenderness
- heaviness in the breast, even in one boob and both
- more sensitive in the breast
- mild to severe pain
- swelling
- redness or red lines occur on the breast
- changes in breast appearance
- itchiness on the nipple area or whole
- warmth
Most women feel these symptoms 2 to 4 days before periods and during periods, and these symptoms are temporary.
Talk to your healthcare provider, if you experience any other symptoms on other parts of your body, or blood clot during periods.
Check – Irregular Periods in Teenage Years: Causes, Treatment, Risk
Risk Factors for Breast Pain During Periods
There are several risk factors that increase the chance of breast pain during the period or before the period which include:
- Age
- more hormonal imbalance may occur due to medication side effects or some illness
- genes
- breast size means heavy breast leads to breast pain
- stress become the situation worse
- breast surgery
- medications
- breastfeeding
Tips for Relieving Breast Pain During Periods
Here are some tips or ways that relieve you from breast pain during periods include:
Apply heat or cold water
Using hot and cold bottles or towels can suppress swelling breast tissue, which can help in relieving pain and swelling.
Which also relaxes the muscle, promotes circulation, and overall reduces numb pain.
Wear a comfortable Bra
Indeed, wearing an uncomfortable bra can cause breast pain, also irritation, rashes, and other conditions also occur.
So, choose a bra according to your breast size, and more stretchable, which reduces pain.
If you still persist in pain, after using a supportive bra, then you should talk to your doctor, it may be some other issues (9)
Avoid caffeine and alcohol
The study showed that caffeine leads to breast pain.
Studies have shown that avoiding caffeine is an effective way to the management of breast pain allied with fibrocystic disease.
Both alcohol and caffeine make breast tissue more sensitive which may worsen breast pain and period situations.
OTC medicines
Over-the-counter medicines can relieve breast sensitivity and pain.
We are not recommending any medication, because every individual has a different condition, so make sure to talk to your doctor.
Relaxation Technique
There are several relaxation techniques for breast pain during periods, even an excellent way to reduce your stress such as:
So make sure to keep calm, focus, and feel relaxed to bring overall well-being.
Hormones Therapy
If the doctor recommended you prescribed hormonal therapy, then it may be birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy (10)
Before taking any new therapy, whether it is natural, make sure to consult your doctor, which will tell if it is good for you or not.
Surgery
It is not a widely used option and is not considered for breast pain patients, because it mostly resolves with some medicines (11).
But if you experience severe breast pain, or the doctor tells other breast issues, then in this case surgery may become an option.
Prevention Tips for Breast Pain During Periods
If you want to prevent breast pain, not only during periods but normally, so make sure to follow a healthy lifestyle which means:
Follow a healthy diet plan: A healthy diet not only keeps healthy your breasts but keep maintains healthy your overall well-being.
Exercises: Do at least 1-hour exercise daily, whether it is yoga, running, jogging, or swimming, and also suppress periods symptoms.
Reduce stress: Cortisol (stress hormone) even makes worse breast pain and period pain, anger, and other symptoms.
So manage your stress, and anxiety through meditation, breathing techniques, and exercise.
And if you are not able to manage it, then consult your doctor, which will help you find what causes of stress.
Other Prevention Tips
- Stay hydrated with water, that prevents you from dehydration
- wear a bra according to your comfort
- avoid trigger things like caffeine, alcohol, and smoking
- use medication but only prescribed
- check your breast changes
When To Seek Medical Help?
If you experience severe pain sudden, then you should seek medical help or consult your doctor, it may some other issue.
Also sudden, and swollen breast changes may be an infection, or insect bit signs, so talk to the doctor, which is a mid scenario.
Premenstrual breast pain and swelling are common conditions, but if you see any abnormal changes in your breasts, then talk to a doctor.
Overall, when to seek medical help if you notice:
- Severe pain
- discharge in the nipple, not milk other liquids
- lumps in breast or changes in lumps
- if breast pain interferes with your daily routine
Then, the doctor will examine your breast with an X-ray, CT scan, and other physical examination methods to find a cause.
In this case, your doctor may ask you some questions like:
- any injuries
- surgery
- other symptoms of the body
- periods blood-related
- discharge you noticed
- any other changes on the breast or overall body
According to your cause doctor will treat you, if the concern is serious or breast cancer is a reason, then surgery may include.
Down Line
Breast pain is a common concern, even in premenstrual and during periods, and mostly occur during menopause and pregnancy.
Hormonal imbalance, where estrogen and progesterone level change during the period and pregnancy leads to breast pain.
There are several ways or tips to relieve breast pain such as – adopting a healthy lifestyle, exercising, relaxation technique, etc.
If you experience severe breast pain, with other health issues, then you should discuss it with your doctor.
