What causes breast pain?

The main cause of breast pain is inflammation. Because the inflammation is severe, it causes breast swelling and pain. In addition, women often experience breast swelling and pain before their menstrual period due to hormonal reasons. Of course, there are also more serious breast cancers that can easily cause breast pain. Therefore, if breast pain occurs, you should go to the hospital for examination in time and then receive regular conditioning.

1. Premenstrual 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.

2. Mastitis:

Local redness, swelling, heat and pain in one breast, accompanied by increased body temperature, is often a sign of mastitis.

3. Mastodynia:

The pathogenesis of mastalgia is similar to that of primary dysmenorrhea and is quite common. Its characteristics are breast pain without breast lumps, severe and persistent distension and pain, like a needle or knife-like pain, and sometimes dull pain. The pain is of variable location and severity on both sides, and may radiate to the armpits, shoulders, back and upper limbs. In severe cases, the patient cannot get dressed and is afraid to walk. During examination, a thickening or granular feeling may be seen on the upper outer part of the breast, with slight tenderness, but no lumps. Menopausal women may also experience unbearable breast pain, often accompanied by breast warmth and discomfort, which is related to the secretion of large amounts of gonadotropin and autonomic nervous system disorders in their bodies.

4. Breast cancer

48% of breast cancer patients experience varying degrees of dull pain and tingling in the breast, which gradually worsens and involves the shoulders and back. About 13% of breast cancer patients have breast pain as an early symptom, and 6% of these patients have breast pain as the only early symptom, that is, they only have breast pain and no lump can be felt. In the late stages of breast cancer, the pain is severe and unbearable, and progressively worsens.

What causes breast pain? Experts suggest that because everyone's physical condition is different, the symptoms are also different. However, it should be noted that breast pain may be a symptom of breast diseases such as mastitis. Therefore, it is recommended that you go to a professional gynecological hospital for examination and diagnosis in time. Do not ignore it and cause unnecessary harm.