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Mostly benign complaints
Many women experience pain in one or both breasts. The breasts feel a bit tense, or hurt so much that you can’t bear the lightest touch. How did that happen? And can it hurt?
Doctors call the phenomenon ‘tender breasts’ also mastopathy. Mastos is the Greek word for breast and pathos means affliction. Mastopathy is a collective name for all kinds of benign complaints of the breasts.
Causes
The cause of sore breasts is not clear, but often it has to do with your hormones. The glandular tissue in the breasts is sensitive to hormonal fluctuations. Many women have tense, tender breasts in the days or weeks leading up to menstruation. In two-thirds of the women, these complaints follow a fixed pattern, every cycle.
Even if you start or stop taking a contraceptive pill or are in the menopause, you can still experience breast discomfort.
Other possible causes:
– Pregnancy.
– A cyst (a fluid-filled blister in the breast).
– In rare cases there is breast cancer.
Symptoms
The symptoms range from swollen or tense breasts (sometimes you can also see that your breasts are swollen) to pain of varying degrees. For some women it remains an irritating feeling, others can absolutely not lie on their stomach or touch the breasts.
The glandular tissue may feel a bit stiffer, irregular and knobby. Fluid can also come out of a nipple.
What can you do yourself?
A (sports) bra that provides extra support can help. An underwire bra is sometimes not comfortable: see what fits you best.
Cold reduces symptoms for some women, while heat works better for others. Try a hot shower or a cold pack.
If necessary, take paracetamol or, if that doesn’t work, an NSAID.
To the doctor
The pain often disappears after menstruation. Even if you are in the menopause, the pain usually goes away after the menopause.
Besides the pain, do you notice any other changes in your breasts? Discuss these with your doctor, because sometimes they have to do with breast cancer. Think of a change in your skin (red, a dent, folds), a change in the nipple (withdrawal, scab, brownish fluid) or a strange feeling lump or string that is still there after the menstruation. If you are concerned, you can of course consult your doctor.
Therapy
The possible treatment for sensitive breasts depends on the cause. Stopping the pill or starting with it is sometimes the solution. A painful cyst can be drained with a hypodermic needle. Sometimes it gives you a lot of relief when you are told that nothing serious is wrong.
If more research is needed, your doctor will refer you for an ultrasound of the breasts or a photo (mammography).