What causes nipple pain in women

Women grow up slowly during puberty due to the stimulation of estrogen. The breasts of adult women are hemispherical, the nipples are cylindrical, the skin in the center is dark red, and there are skin glands called nipples. The inside of the breast is mainly composed of 15 to 20 glandular ducts (milk glands) and fat tissue. Generally speaking, if a woman's nipple suddenly experiences persistent, severe pain, and obvious dull pain, she needs to go to the hospital for immediate medical treatment, as it may be subacute mastitis.

1. Cracked nipples

It is usually caused by incorrect breastfeeding posture, the baby does not suck the nipple and most of the nipple in the mouth, and the breastfeeding time is fixed on one side for too long.

2. Blocked milk ducts

It is more common in secondary milk stasis, and its main causes are incomplete breast suction, irregular and frequent breastfeeding, and local pressure on the breast. Milk stasis is also common in people with underdeveloped nipples (such as nipple indentations), which affects breastfeeding. In addition, the first-born milk contains more fallen squamous epithelial cells, which can easily cause blockage of the mammary ducts and aggravate milk congestion.

3. Invasion of pathogens

The key pathogen of subacute mastitis is Staphylococcus aureus, which is rare in streptococcal infection.

(1) The bacteria can invade directly through the milk ducts, which are very susceptible to infection due to milk congestion and retention. Because the stored milk is easy to dissolve, the dissolved substances are acidic and alkaline, which are not only irritating to the mammary glands, but also a very good culture medium for the growth of bacteria.

(2) Bacteria can enter the nipple through small wounds or cracks, invade the interstitial space of the mammary gland through the lymphatic vessels, and cause cellulitis.

(3) Bacteria that infect other parts of the body of pregnant women during the confinement period can cause breast infection through blood circulation.

(4) Another way of infection is that bacteria in the baby's body (such as oral and throat infections) travel back along the mammary ducts during breastfeeding, invade the mammary gland branches, and grow and multiply in the accumulated milk, causing mammary gland infection.

4. Milk stasis

(1) First-time mothers have no experience in breastfeeding and have a lot of milk. Babies usually cannot suck all the milk, resulting in unnecessary milk accumulation in the glandular branches, which is conducive to the growth and reproduction of bacteria. The first milk contains more fallen squamous epithelial cells, which can easily cause blockage of the mammary ducts and aggravate milk congestion. The deposition of milk promotes acute inflammation.

(2) If the nipples are not cleaned frequently during pregnancy, the epithelial cells will be sensitive. If the baby sucks for too long, the nipple skin will become soft and prone to cracking. When cracking occurs, the baby's sucking will cause severe pain to the mother, affecting adequate breastfeeding. It will be difficult for the breasts to be drained and milk will easily accumulate. In addition, the nipples are underdeveloped, short, flat, small, and filled, which causes milk to easily accumulate.