What causes nipple pain?

There are many causes of nipple pain, both physiological and pathological. The physiological cause is nerve pain caused by breast development, which can be relieved by proper breast massage. Pathological nipple pain may be caused by nipple bite infection, mastitis and breast hyperplasia. At this time, female friends should seek treatment in time, otherwise it will affect the milk secretion of the breast.

Some female friends often feel that some patients with nipple pain think they have "breast cancer" because they can't find the cause for a while. In fact, there are many reasons for nipple pain. Temporary breast pain caused by physiological changes in women at different times is medically called "physiological breast pain".

Generally speaking, women have the following reasons:

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

2. Breast pain during pregnancy: Breast pain after pregnancy is caused by the placenta and villi secreting a large amount of estrogen, progesterone and prolactin, which causes breast hyperplasia and breast enlargement. This is a physiological pain, which is in preparation for postpartum breastfeeding. Just change to a wide bra in time to support the growing breasts.

3. Postpartum breast pain: Postpartum breast pain is mostly mastitis. In addition to breast pain, there will also be fever and local breast lumps. This is mainly caused by blocked breast ducts and milk stasis. Therefore, breastfeeding should be started as soon as possible after delivery to prevent excessive accumulation of milk in the breasts.

4. Breast pain caused by breast hyperplasia: Breast pain caused by breast hyperplasia can radiate to the armpits, shoulders and back. When touching the breast, you can feel active lumps of varying sizes and unclear edges. It can also be affected by menstruation and emotions. This type of breast pain is caused by metabolic disorders, accumulation of metabolic waste, and qi stagnation and blood stasis in the body.

5. Mastodynia: Mastodynia manifests as dull pain, distending pain or stabbing pain, which can radiate to the armpits, shoulders and upper limbs.

6. Cancerous breast pain: When breast pain persists, the pain is fixed and radiates to the shoulders and back, and there is a sense of weight on the shoulders, there is a possibility of breast cancer.

If women have this phenomenon, they must not let it develop freely and must pay attention to timely treatment.