BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuBreast painPain - breast; Mastalgia; Mastodynia; Breast tenderness Breast pain is any discomfort or pain in the breast. Considerations There are many possible causes for breast pain. For example, changes in the level of hormones during menstruation or pregnancy often cause breast pain. Some swelling and tenderness just before your period is normal.Some women who have pain in one or both breasts may fear breast cancer. However, breast pain is not a common symptom of cancer.Breast cancerBreast cancer is cancer that starts in the tissues of the breast. There are two main types of breast cancer:Ductal carcinoma starts in the tubes (du...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Some breast tenderness is normal. The discomfort may be caused by hormone changes from:Menopause (unless a woman is taking hormone replacement therapy) Menstruation and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) Premenstrual syndromePremenstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to a wide range of symptoms. The symptoms start during the second half of the menstrual cycle (14 or more days af...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Pregnancy -- breast tenderness tends to be more common during the first trimester Puberty in both girls and boys Soon after having a baby, a woman's breasts may become swollen with milk. This can be very painful. If you also have an area of redness, call your health care provider, as this may be a sign of an infection or other more serious breast problem. Breastfeeding itself may also cause breast pain.Fibrocystic breast changes are a common cause of breast pain. Fibrocystic breast tissue contains lumps or cysts that tend to be more tender just before your menstrual period.Fibrocystic breast changesFibrocystic breasts are painful, lumpy breasts. Formerly called fibrocystic breast disease, this common condition is, in fact, not a disease. Many ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Certain medicines may also cause breast pain, including: Oxymetholone Chlorpromazine and other antipsychotic medicines Water pills (diuretics) Digitalis preparations Methyldopa Spironolactone Oral contraceptives Estrogen replacement therapy Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as fluoxetineShingles can lead to pain in the breast as there is a painful blistering rash that appears on the skin of your breasts.ShinglesShingles is a painful, blistering skin rash. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, a member of the herpes family of viruses. This is the viru...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Home Care If you have painful breasts, the following may help:Take medicine such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen Use heat or ice on the breast Wear a well-fitting bra that supports your breasts, such as a sports braThere is no good evidence to show that reducing the amount of fat, caffeine, or chocolate in your diet helps reduce breast pain. Vitamin E, thiamine, magnesium, and evening primrose oil are not harmful, but most studies have not shown any benefit. Talk to your provider before starting any medicine or supplement.Certain birth control pills may help ease breast pain, although in other cases it may cause breast pain. Ask your provider if this therapy is right for you. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have:Bloody or clear discharge from your nipple Given birth within the last week and your breasts are swollen or hard Noticed a new lump that does not go away after your menstrual period Persistent, unexplained breast pain Signs of a breast infection, including redness, pus drainage, or fever What to Expect at Your Office Visit Your provider will perform a breast examination and ask questions about your breast pain. You may have a mammogram or ultrasound.MammogramA mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breasts. It is used to evaluate some breast symptoms and to find breast cancer in women with no symptoms....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article UltrasoundUltrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to make images of organs and structures inside the body.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Your provider may arrange a follow-up visit if your symptoms have not gone away in a given period of time. You may be referred to a specialist. Open ReferencesReferencesFamily Practice Notebook website. Medication causes of mastalgia: breast pain due to medication. fpnotebook.com/Gyn/Sx/Mstlg.htm. Accessed January 1, 2023.Klimberg VS, Hunt KK. Diseases of the breast. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 35.Sandadi S, Rock DT, Orr JW, Valea FA. Breast diseases: detection, management, and surveillance of breast disease. In: Gershenson DM, Lentz GM, Valea FA, Lobo RA, eds. Comprehensive Gynecology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 15.Sasaki J, Geletzke A, Kass RB, Klimberg VS, Copeland EM, Bland KI. Etiology and management of benign breast disease. In: Bland KI, Copeland EM, Klimberg VS, Gradishar WJ, eds. The Breast: Comprehensive Management of Benign and Malignant Diseases. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 5.AllVideoImagesTogFemale Breast - illustration The female breast is either of two mammary glands (organs of milk secretion) on the chest.Female BreastillustrationBreast pain - illustration Breast pain can be due to many possible causes. Most likely breast pain is from hormonal fluctuations from menstruation, pregnancy, puberty, menopause, and breastfeeding. Breast pain can also be associated with fibrocystic breast disease, but it is a very unusual symptom of breast cancer.Breast painillustrationFemale Breast - illustration The female breast is either of two mammary glands (organs of milk secretion) on the chest.Female BreastillustrationBreast pain - illustration Breast pain can be due to many possible causes. Most likely breast pain is from hormonal fluctuations from menstruation, pregnancy, puberty, menopause, and breastfeeding. Breast pain can also be associated with fibrocystic breast disease, but it is a very unusual symptom of breast cancer.Breast painillustrationTalking to your MD Mastectomy and breast reconstruction - what to ask your doctor Tests for Breast pain Breast MRI scanMammogramBreast biopsy - stereotacticBreast biopsy - ultrasoundRelated Information Premenstrual breast changes(Symptoms)Breast cancer(Condition)Breast enlargement in males(Symptoms)Breast cancer - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 10/10/2022 Reviewed By: Jonas DeMuro, MD, Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery with added Qualifications in Surgical Critical Care, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Breast painPain - breast; Mastalgia; Mastodynia; Breast tenderness Breast pain is any discomfort or pain in the breast. Considerations There are many possible causes for breast pain. For example, changes in the level of hormones during menstruation or pregnancy often cause breast pain. Some swelling and tenderness just before your period is normal.Some women who have pain in one or both breasts may fear breast cancer. However, breast pain is not a common symptom of cancer.Breast cancerBreast cancer is cancer that starts in the tissues of the breast. There are two main types of breast cancer:Ductal carcinoma starts in the tubes (du...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Some breast tenderness is normal. The discomfort may be caused by hormone changes from:Menopause (unless a woman is taking hormone replacement therapy) Menstruation and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) Premenstrual syndromePremenstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to a wide range of symptoms. The symptoms start during the second half of the menstrual cycle (14 or more days af...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Pregnancy -- breast tenderness tends to be more common during the first trimester Puberty in both girls and boys Soon after having a baby, a woman's breasts may become swollen with milk. This can be very painful. If you also have an area of redness, call your health care provider, as this may be a sign of an infection or other more serious breast problem. Breastfeeding itself may also cause breast pain.Fibrocystic breast changes are a common cause of breast pain. Fibrocystic breast tissue contains lumps or cysts that tend to be more tender just before your menstrual period.Fibrocystic breast changesFibrocystic breasts are painful, lumpy breasts. Formerly called fibrocystic breast disease, this common condition is, in fact, not a disease. Many ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Certain medicines may also cause breast pain, including: Oxymetholone Chlorpromazine and other antipsychotic medicines Water pills (diuretics) Digitalis preparations Methyldopa Spironolactone Oral contraceptives Estrogen replacement therapy Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as fluoxetineShingles can lead to pain in the breast as there is a painful blistering rash that appears on the skin of your breasts.ShinglesShingles is a painful, blistering skin rash. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, a member of the herpes family of viruses. This is the viru...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Home Care If you have painful breasts, the following may help:Take medicine such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen Use heat or ice on the breast Wear a well-fitting bra that supports your breasts, such as a sports braThere is no good evidence to show that reducing the amount of fat, caffeine, or chocolate in your diet helps reduce breast pain. Vitamin E, thiamine, magnesium, and evening primrose oil are not harmful, but most studies have not shown any benefit. Talk to your provider before starting any medicine or supplement.Certain birth control pills may help ease breast pain, although in other cases it may cause breast pain. Ask your provider if this therapy is right for you. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have:Bloody or clear discharge from your nipple Given birth within the last week and your breasts are swollen or hard Noticed a new lump that does not go away after your menstrual period Persistent, unexplained breast pain Signs of a breast infection, including redness, pus drainage, or fever What to Expect at Your Office Visit Your provider will perform a breast examination and ask questions about your breast pain. You may have a mammogram or ultrasound.MammogramA mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breasts. It is used to evaluate some breast symptoms and to find breast cancer in women with no symptoms....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article UltrasoundUltrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to make images of organs and structures inside the body.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Your provider may arrange a follow-up visit if your symptoms have not gone away in a given period of time. You may be referred to a specialist. Open ReferencesReferencesFamily Practice Notebook website. Medication causes of mastalgia: breast pain due to medication. fpnotebook.com/Gyn/Sx/Mstlg.htm. Accessed January 1, 2023.Klimberg VS, Hunt KK. Diseases of the breast. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 35.Sandadi S, Rock DT, Orr JW, Valea FA. Breast diseases: detection, management, and surveillance of breast disease. In: Gershenson DM, Lentz GM, Valea FA, Lobo RA, eds. Comprehensive Gynecology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 15.Sasaki J, Geletzke A, Kass RB, Klimberg VS, Copeland EM, Bland KI. Etiology and management of benign breast disease. In: Bland KI, Copeland EM, Klimberg VS, Gradishar WJ, eds. The Breast: Comprehensive Management of Benign and Malignant Diseases. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 5.