Why do nipples hurt?

Some women experience pain in their nipples when they are not menstruating. What causes this? In fact, there are many reasons for nipple pain, such as an unsuitable bra. If this is the cause, women can change their bras. Choosing a bra that suits us can avoid this situation. If this is not the case, then you can consider whether it is caused by a disease.

Why does it hurt when the nipple is pinched?

1. Ovulation

It is normal for women to have nipple pain. The pain may be most obvious during the period before and after ovulation, and even a light touch with the hand can be uncomfortable. This is because the estrogen level is highest before ovulation and on the day of ovulation, so the breasts become sensitive. After the corpus luteum is formed, progesterone increases and the estrogen level is not as high as before ovulation, so the nipple pain will be slightly relieved. For some women, the nipple pain will not disappear until the menstruation comes.

2. Menstrual period

Some women experience breast fullness, hardness, and tenderness before their period. In severe cases, these symptoms are related to the increase in estrogen levels in the body before menstruation. High estrogen levels stimulate the mammary glands, causing breast hyperplasia and tissue edema. The pain may disappear after the onset of menstruation or may last throughout the menstrual period and will not subside until the end of menstruation.

3. Puberty

When a girl's breasts begin to develop, she will feel a slight swelling and pain, and her breasts will become hard. If they are accidentally hit by external force, she will feel obvious pain and it will be very painful. This situation will continue until after her first menstruation. As the breasts develop and mature, the swelling and pain will disappear on their own.

4. Your underwear is too tight

When the bra is too tight, a lot of exercise or exercise with a large range of motion will cause the nipples to be rubbed by the bra and cause local pain. In this case, you only need to change the bra to improve the breast discomfort.

5. Breast inflammation

Redness, swelling, heat and pain caused by breast inflammation and infection are something new mothers who are breastfeeding should pay special attention to. Once you feel breast pain or discomfort, it is best to see a doctor for examination to avoid affecting normal breastfeeding.

What to do if you have nipple pain

1. Eat a light diet

If food is too salty, it will aggravate fluid retention in the breast, easily causing breast swelling, which in turn makes the pain more severe. A low-fat, high-fiber diet, and fiber-rich foods such as cereals, vegetables, and beans can help improve nipple discomfort.

2. Breast Massage

First apply soapy liquid on the breasts, and then massage the surface of the breasts in a rotating circle about the size of a coin. Then, use your hands to press the breasts in and then bounce them up. This will greatly help improve breast discomfort and promote the return of excess body fluids to the lymphatic system.

3. Local heat

Using a hot water bottle, hot towel or hot bath to relieve breast pain, or using cold and hot water to rinse the breasts alternately while bathing, will be more effective in eliminating breast discomfort than simply using hot water stimulation.

4. Adjust your underwear

In order to prevent the painful breasts from being further stimulated by external forces, the size of the underwear should be adjusted. At the same time, a good attitude should be maintained. Negative emotions will directly affect the health of the breasts, induce and aggravate breast hyperplasia.