Why does it hurt when my nipples are pinched?

The health of the breasts is directly related to a woman's overall health and mental state, so once there is any abnormality in the breasts, it should be taken seriously. It is best to take time to go to the hospital for a breast examination to find out the causes of abnormalities such as pain, redness, swelling, and lumps. So, why does it hurt when your nipples are pinched? It may be caused by hormone levels, for example, this situation is more likely to occur during menstruation.

Why does it hurt when the nipple is pinched?

Premenstrual breast tenderness: Many women experience breast fullness, hardness, and tenderness during menstruation. In severe cases, the breasts may become swollen and painful with just a slight vibration or collision, and the original granules or nodules may become more obvious. This is caused by increased estrogen levels in the body before menstruation, breast hyperplasia, and edema of the breast interstitial tissue. After the menstrual period, the above changes disappear.

Breast tenderness after abortion: After abortion, some women complain of breast tenderness and a lump, which is due to the sudden interruption of pregnancy. The hormone level in the body drops sharply, causing the newly developed mammary glands to suddenly stop growing, resulting in breast lumps and breast pain.

Breast pain after sexual intercourse: This is related to the physiological changes in the breasts during sexual intercourse. People with low libido or an disharmonious sex life cannot achieve sexual satisfaction, so the congestion and swelling of the breasts are not easy to subside, or they subside incompletely. Continuous congestion will cause breast pain.

During examination, diffuse thickening of the breasts on both sides can be found, which appears in the form of flaky, fine particles or nodules, and the boundary between the thickened area and the surrounding breast tissue is not obvious. Sometimes the two sides may be asymmetrical. The above findings are often more obvious before menstruation and soften or disappear after menstruation. When cysts are formed, multiple cystic nodules of varying sizes can be felt in the breast.

Breast diseases should not be taken lightly. It is very important for women to check their breasts regularly because breast cancer is hidden deep at the beginning and is difficult to detect. By the time it is discovered, signs of metastasis have already appeared. The symptom of nipple pain when touched may be related to breast cancer, but don't worry too much, just have regular check-ups.

Is it better to have big or small nipples?

Generally speaking, as long as the size and height of the nipples on both sides are symmetrical and in line with the overall proportion of the breasts, they are considered normal and healthy. Of course, different aesthetic perspectives and different standards will lead to differences in evaluating what kind of nipples are considered healthy. Some experienced people believe that there is a standard for the perfect size of female nipples. Generally, the diameter ranges from 0.6cm to 0.8cm, and the height ranges from 0.4cm to 0.6cm. If it is larger or smaller than this, it is considered that the nipple shape is poor.

In fact, the normal female nipple is located at the fourth intercostal space or the fifth rib level. After childbirth, the breasts sag slightly, so the position of the nipples also lowers. The structure of the nipple changes slightly as you age. The nipples of young women are generally located at the level of the 4th or 5th intercostal space, 1 cm outside the midclavicular line. The nipples of middle-aged women are located at the level of the sixth intercostal space, 1 to 2 cm outside the midclavicular line. They are cylindrical or conical in shape, symmetrical on both sides, and their color changes from pink to black.