Is breast pain normal?

Breasts are an important female sexual characteristic and have many functions, the most common of which is to feed children and ensure that they can grow up healthily through breast milk. However, the breasts are also a part of the body that is more prone to disease. For example, many women experience breast pain. Breast pain occurs at different times and indicates different problems. Below, we will introduce to you in detail the causes of breast pain.

About 2/3 of women experience breast pain or discomfort before menstruation. The entire breast becomes swollen, hard, and tender, and the original granular or nodular feeling becomes more obvious. This is a physiological phenomenon. For most women, the swelling and pain are not serious and can be tolerated; however, a few sensitive ones feel unbearable swelling and pain when their breasts are subjected to slight vibrations or collisions. They may even be afraid to walk or dress, and hold their breasts with their hands all day long. This is mainly caused by increased estrogen levels in the body 1 to 2 weeks before menstruation, breast hyperplasia, cell enlargement, and edema of the breast interstitial tissue.

After menstruation, estrogen levels drop, the above changes disappear, the breasts become loose and soft, the swelling and pain suddenly disappear, and the next premenstrual symptoms reappear. Generally, there is no need to deal with this. Just keep a cheerful mood and relax mentally. For severe cases, you can pay attention to eating a light diet or take a small amount of diuretics, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, Lutuo Paste or Xiaoyao Powder before menstruation.

Breasts may feel swollen 40 days after menstruation stops. In severe cases, there may be breast and nipple pain, which may last throughout pregnancy. This is because the placenta and villi secrete large amounts of estrogen, progesterone, and prolactin, which cause breast hyperplasia and breast enlargement. It is also a preparation for breastfeeding and is a physiological phenomenon. As your breasts grow larger, you should promptly change to a wider bra and avoid binding your breasts. If the bloating stops suddenly, it often indicates that the fetus may have died, and you should go to the hospital for examination immediately.

3. Postpartum breast pain

Three days after delivery, the breasts become swollen, painful, and hardened, even extending to the accessory breast glands in the armpits, accompanied by low fever. This is mainly due to breast lymph retention, venous congestion and interstitial edema, and obstructed mammary ducts. Generally, the pain will subside after 7 days of delivery when the milk starts to flow smoothly.

4. Breast pain after abortion

After an artificial abortion, some patients complain of breast pain and can feel a breast lump. If the symptoms appear a long time after the abortion, people tend to forget or ignore that the symptoms are related to the abortion. Artificial abortion is different from natural childbirth. The latter is a natural process of maturity, while artificial abortion is an extraordinary state caused by human interference.

Generally, the breasts begin to swell, become fuller, and enlarge, and the mammary glands gradually develop 4 weeks after menopause. When pregnancy is suddenly interrupted and hormone levels drop sharply, the newly developed mammary glands will suddenly stop growing, the cells will become smaller, and the alveoli will disappear. This aggregation and recovery is often incomplete and uneven, just like newborn leaves are not easy to wither and fall off, thus causing breast lumps and breast pain.

Fibrocystic breast disease is the most common cause of breast pain, and more than 80% of fibrocystic breast disease will cause breast pain to varying degrees. The pain site is often inconsistent with the location of the lump, and often radiates to the armpits, shoulders and back. It may be affected by menstruation, mood, weather changes and other factors, and often has automatic relief or irregular paroxysmal attacks. Lumps with unclear boundaries, varying sizes, hard texture, and good mobility can be felt in the breast. Some lumps have granular surfaces. This disease accounts for more than 2/3 of breast diseases and is more common in people aged 35 to 45. It is particularly common in older women who are unmarried, childless, not breastfeeding, depressed, or have sexual dysfunction. If you find the above conditions, you should ask a doctor for a physical examination to rule out cancer and follow up regularly.