Many women and for various reasons have presented breast tenderness, in most cases due to what is commonly known as premenstrual syndrome or PMS. Despite this, it can be associated with other causes such as menopause or the use of some drugs.
The sensitivity in the breasts or perceiving breast pain when touched can improve, in many cases, with some natural remedies or care. Still, it is always convenient to determine the cause of this discomfort to know what medical treatment to apply. This FastlyHealarticle explains everything you need to know about breast tenderness: causes and treatment.
Table of Contents
Causes of breast tenderness
Many women present breast tenderness throughout their lives, but medical treatment is not always required since the causative factors are very varied. The extent of pain in the breasts when touched or the sensitivity varies depending on the severity of the associated cause. It can also occur in a single breast or both. The most common causes of breast tenderness are:
- Premenstrual syndrome: menstruation or premenstrual syndrome is the most common cause of breast tenderness. This is due to the hormonal changes in this stage: the increase and decrease of estrogen associated with the menstrual cycle. Around 5 and 8% of women suffer from Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), as stated in the Medical Journal of Costa Rica and Central America [1].
- Use of oral contraceptives: This particular contraceptive method brings hormonal alterations, significantly associated with estrogen, which makes the breasts much more sensitive.
- Pregnancy: this stage of women represents numerous physical changes, and one of them may be the sensitivity in the breasts related to hormonal fluctuations. This usually happens during the first trimester of pregnancy.
- Puberty: at this stage, it is customary to present breast tenderness due to the development of breast tissue and all the hormonal alterations that occur in the adolescent’s body.
Other causes of breast tenderness
In addition to those described above, many other causes are related to increased sensitivity in one or both breasts, such as:
- Medications: some treatments bring with them some side effects. This occurs with antidepressant or cardiovascular drugs presenting pain or tenderness in the breasts.
- Wrong underwear: Some bras on the market cause breast discomfort, especially when the support is inadequate. Likewise, their use during physical exercise can cause pain, so it is recommended to use sports bras.
- Breastfeeding: likewise, after childbirth, the female body takes some time to return to normal. This sensitivity in the breasts can continue during the lactation period, also associated with breastfeeding during the first days, which is usually somewhat painful, especially in new mothers.
- Mastitis: this condition can be produced by inadequate secretion of milk, accumulating it in the ducts, or a virus or fungal infection. In addition to having a fever, it brings severe pain to the breasts.
- Breast cyst: it is a small sac that forms inside the breasts and is filled with fluid. It is usually a benign condition and easy to detect with a breast ultrasound in most cases. In the following article, you can learn more about the symptoms and treatments of breast cysts.
- Abscesses: there are cases in which cracks in the nipples can be an easy access route for bacteria, generating an accumulation of pus in the breast tissue. This, in addition to developing a fever, increases breast sensitivity.
Breast tenderness: treatment
The doctor should indicate the treatment of breast tenderness depending on the cause that originated it. However, there are some simple cares and tips that can be put into practice if this discomfort is associated with premenstrual syndrome or another simple condition to treat:
- Cold compresses: applying them to the breasts for an adequate and tolerable time improves swelling and pain.
- Vitamin E, B6, B1: these vitamin supplements effectively fight breast tenderness.
- Avoid wearing inappropriate bras: choosing the ideal size and a bra that firmly supports the breasts is crucial.
- In severe breast pain, do not hesitate to go to the doctor. You can calm this discomfort for a while with ibuprofen or paracetamol.
- Taking a warm bath significantly improves this condition.
- If the sensitivity is during lactation, express the milk when the breast is whole. You can do this by breastfeeding the baby or expressing the milk with a manual or electric pump.
Breast tenderness is quite joint. In most cases, it does not indicate a severe problem to treat. Despite this, you must see a doctor if the discomfort or sensitivity is associated with other symptoms, such as fever, severe pain in the breasts for more than ten days, redness, discharge of purulent discharge or blood from the nipples, or presence of a lump or nodule in the breasts.
This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Breast tenderness: causes and treatment, we recommend that you enter our category of Female reproductive system.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.