What causes breast swelling in women?

Women's breasts are more fragile than men's because there are mammary glands in women's breasts, which are prone to disease. Many women will experience a feeling of chest distension over a period of time, which lasts for a long time and they cannot find the cause of the distension and pain. This problem makes women very distressed. Let's take a look at the explanation of what causes breast distension in women.

1. Pain and swelling during puberty

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.

2. Breast pain and premenstrual breast pain

More than half of women experience breast fullness, hardness and tenderness before menstruation. In severe cases, the breasts may become swollen and painful even with the slightest vibration or collision, and the original granular or nodular feeling becomes more obvious. This is caused by increased estrogen levels in the body before menstruation, breast hyperplasia, and edema of the breast interstitial tissue. The above changes may disappear after menstruation.

3. Breast pain during pregnancy

Some women experience breast pain around 40 days after pregnancy due to the placenta and villi secreting large amounts of estrogen, progesterone and prolactin, which causes breast hyperplasia and breast enlargement. In severe cases, the pain may last throughout the pregnancy and no treatment is needed.

4. Breast pain and postpartum pain

Breast swelling, hardening and pain often occur 3-7 days after delivery. This is mainly caused by breast lymph retention, venous congestion, interstitial edema and obstruction of mammary ducts. Prevention and treatment methods: Mothers should breastfeed as early as possible. If there is a lump, you can apply hot compress and massage the lump before breastfeeding, or you can use a breast pump to draw out milk to promote patency of the mammary duct.

5. Breast pain after artificial abortion

After an abortion, some women complain of breast tenderness and a palpable lump. This is because the pregnancy is suddenly interrupted, and the hormone levels in the body drop sharply, causing the newly developed mammary glands to suddenly stop growing, resulting in breast lumps and breast pain.