Breast Pain

Breasts don’t often hurt, but when they do, it can be agony. If you have breast pain, the team at Urgyn in Atlanta, Georgia, is available to help. There are numerous reasons why your breasts might be painful, many of which are linked to your hormones. If you want to find out what’s causing your breast pain, call Urgyn to schedule a consultation or book an appointment using the online feature today.

What is breast pain?

Throughout your reproductive life, levels of estrogen and other hormones fluctuate, which can sometimes cause tissue changes and lead to breast pain. Breast pain comes in two forms:

Cyclical breast pain

This type of breast pain follows a pattern aligned with your menstrual cycle. For example, your breasts might become painful for a few days before your period but get better when your period starts. Breast tenderness and a feeling of fullness often accompany cyclical breast pain.

Noncyclical breast pain

Noncyclical breast pain, or breast pain that doesn’t vary with your menstrual period is less common and can have various causes.

What conditions cause breast pain?

Breast pain can be a symptom that arises during key stages in a woman’s life, from puberty through pregnancy and into menopause. Breast pain can also result from several other conditions, including:

Cysts

As you get older, fat gradually replaces your breast tissue. This makes it more likely that you’ll develop fluid-filled lumps called cysts and extra fibrous tissue, known as fibrocystic changes. Cysts are often painless and aren’t usually a cause for concern.

Mastitis

Mastitis is an infection in your milk ducts. It can cause sore, cracked nipples, pain and tenderness, and flu-like symptoms.

Engorgement

Engorgement happens when you’re breastfeeding, and your breasts have a large quantity of milk in them. Feeding your baby, expressing your milk by hand, or using a pump should relieve the symptoms.

Breast pain can also be due to:

• Injuries
• Muscle damage
• Postsurgical scar tissue
• Antidepressants
• Hormone therapy
• Heart disease medications
• Smoking

Breast pain is often related to having larger breasts, especially if you have a small frame.

How is breast pain treated?

The first step in determining the best treatment for your breast pain is to find the cause. The Urgyn team sends off orders for diagnostics like lab tests and mammography and then reviews the results with you. The OB/GYNs have many years of experience in diagnosing the causes of breast pain and finding the solution.

For cyclic breast pain, treatments could include:

• Reducing sodium intake
• Calcium supplements
• Oral contraceptives
• Estrogen blockers

NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen often help reduce breast pain.

If your breast pain is noncyclic, your OB/GYN can discuss the appropriate treatment options with you once you have a diagnosis.

Call Urgyn or request an appointment online today for specialized breast pain diagnosis and treatment.