What causes pain on the outside of the breast?

Breasts are a relatively important part of the female body. Breasts also bear the important task of feeding the baby, so many women will take good care of their breasts. Especially now that many breast-related diseases are on the rise, women are paying more attention to breast health. If you experience breast pain outside of the growth and development or pregnancy stage, you should go to the hospital for examination and treatment in time.

Pain on the outside of the breast

1. Breast pain during puberty:

Girls between the ages of 9 and 13 begin to develop breasts, and pea- to bean-sized dome-shaped lumps appear in the breast tissue under the nipple, which are slightly swollen and painful. After menarche, it will disappear on its own as the breasts mature during puberty.

2. Breast pain during menstruation:

It is the most common type of breast pain, accounting for about 65% of all breast pain, with an average age of 35 years. The pain usually occurs or worsens 3 to 7 days before menstruation and gradually disappears or eases after menstruation. The severity of the pain varies from month to month, and is often felt as a heaviness, distension, dull pain, or occasional brief tingling sensation. There are also tender breast nodules, which are aggravated by pressure, movement or lifting objects.

3. Breast pain during pregnancy:

Some expectant mothers experience breast pain around 40 days after pregnancy due to the placenta and villi secreting large amounts of estrogen and progesterone, which causes breast enlargement. In severe cases, the pain may last throughout the pregnancy and usually does not require treatment.

Breast cancer can cause breast pain

Breast pain is one of the most important manifestations of breast cancer. Clinically, it is believed that if the breast pain is unbearable, it is usually in the late stage of breast cancer. It is reported that only 6% of breast cancer patients feel breast pain in the early stages. Breast cancer is a disease that is common among women aged 20 to 40, so it must be taken seriously by female friends.

What are the other causes of breast pain?

Breast pain is a common complaint in outpatient clinics. Breast pain can be divided into cyclical and non-cyclical types, and can also change from cyclical to non-cyclical. 2/3 of breast pain is cyclical. The vast majority of patients are premenopausal women. The most common site of pain is above the outer side of the breast, and symptoms worsen before menstruation. The pain is characterized by distension, heaviness and tenderness.

1. Breast pain caused by reasons other than the breast: In fact, it is diseases in other parts of the body that manifest as breast pain, such as pneumonia and costochondritis.

2. Cyclic breast pain: It is related to the menstrual cycle and reflects the cyclical changes in hormones in the body. This pain is normal to a large extent, mainly occurs in premenopausal women, especially before the age of 35, and most of them can be relieved by themselves.