What causes breast pain during puberty?

During the development process, the breasts are growing rapidly, so many adolescent girls will feel dull pain in their breasts, as well as swelling and itching. This pain will gradually disappear with age, especially in the 9 to 13 year old stage, when breast pain is more severe.

What causes breast pain during puberty?

People are accustomed to regarding menarche as an important sign that girls are entering puberty. However, the first secondary sexual characteristic that develops and appears in girls is the breast. Some adolescent girls feel a dull pain in their breasts and don’t know why. In fact, this is a normal phenomenon.

The earliest onset of breast pain in adolescent girls usually occurs between the ages of 9 and 13. At this time, the girl's breasts begin to develop. First, the nipple swells, and then a dome-shaped lump about the size of a pea or a bean appears in the breast tissue under the nipple, which is slightly swollen and painful. After menarche, it will disappear on its own as the breasts mature.

According to experts, after entering puberty, the girl's body secretes a large amount of estrogen. When estrogen acts on the breasts, it will promote the increase of mammary glands and stimulate the development of milk ducts, which will increase the number of blood vessels and enhance the permeability of capillaries. Under the action of estrogen, the breasts begin to fill with water and become tight and upright. At this time, the female breasts begin to develop. First, the nipple swells, and a round lump about the size of a pea or a bean appears in the breast tissue, with a slight feeling of distension and pain. During this process, the breasts become extremely sensitive and usually feel tight. If they are compressed by external force, they will be particularly painful.

As the breasts gradually develop and mature, the body will secrete another hormone called progesterone, which can mitigate the effects of estrogen, prevent breast proliferation, and reduce edema, so that the breasts tend to balance and are no longer particularly painful. After menarche, it disappears on its own as the breasts mature during puberty.

Of course, many women have experienced breast swelling and pain when menstruation comes. It's the same principle. During menstruation, the estrogen content in the human body begins to increase, breaking the balance, so there will be swelling and pain, which will return to normal as the menstruation passes.