Breast pain: the most common causes and how to deal with them

Of course, breast pain is very uncomfortable and can also worry women. Many question whether pain may not be a sign of a more serious illness. But, most of the time, it doesn’t represent anything much and can even be a reflection of the exercises done at the gym, you know?

Below you know some of the most common reasons that cause breast pain and guidelines on how to deal with them:

1. Menstruation

Gustavo Badan, coordinator of the Sector of Interventional Procedures in Mastology at Femme Laboratório da Mulher, explains that cyclical breast pain (mastalgia) can occur.

“For approximately 28 days, which corresponds to the menstrual cycle, the woman’s body undergoes several changes that prepare the uterus to receive a baby. In the first 14 days (first phase of the menstrual cycle), the preparatory period for ovulation occurs, and along with it, the increase in estrogen levels. This hormone is one of those responsible for controlling the well-being of women. In the following 14 days (second phase of the menstrual cycle), the wall of the uterus begins to thicken, as if preparing a ‘bed’ for the possible baby. During this second phase, estrogen levels drop and progesterone levels rise. This change, when very sudden, can cause a series of symptoms, including breast pain”, explains the doctor.

At the end of these last 14 days, adds Badan, the endometrium (wall that covers the uterus) begins to slough off and be eliminated in the form of menstruation, generating another hormonal drop, this time in progesterone and estrogen. “So in some women the symptoms can be even more intense during menstruation,” she says.

How to deal with pain

Badan points out that cyclical breast pain appears to have a strong link with reproductive hormones and menstrual cycle. “This is precisely why this pain often disappears during pregnancy or after menopause. In some cases, contraceptive use can also ease menstrual cycle-related breast pain,” he says.

2. Physical exercises

Badan explains that physical exercises cannot specifically cause breast pain. “What happens is that some physical activities, especially those at the gym, can cause pain in the pectoral muscles, which are behind the breasts and, due to their close location, confuse them with pain in the breasts”, he says.

According to the doctor, this is a very common cause of concern for women and one of the main reasons for medical consultations in Mastology.

How to deal with pain

In these cases, according to the doctor, the use of anti-inflammatories helps to improve symptoms.

3. Poor nutrition

Badan explains that a poor diet can cause the accumulation of free radicals and an imbalance of fatty acids within the cells, which can affect the sensitivity of breast tissue and rates of circulating hormones, causing breast pain.

How to deal with pain

In this case, the best way is to follow a healthy diet, preferably with the guidance of a nutritionist.

4. Breast cyst

Badan points out that most breast cysts do not cause pain. “However, some cysts increase in size and, for some reason not well understood, become inflamed and painful,” he says.

How to deal with pain

Badan explains that, in these cases, the doctor will recommend performing an ultrasound to confirm the diagnostic hypothesis and a puncture for complete emptying of the cyst. “Quick, simple, painless procedure that provides immediate relief”, he emphasizes.

5. pregnancy

Badan explains that, at the beginning of pregnancy, the woman goes through a flood of female hormones that cause a series of changes in her body in an abrupt way. “In the breasts, they cause an increase in size, fluid retention, increased sensitivity and often pain,” she says.

Marcio Coslovsky, a gynecologist specializing in human reproduction and medical director of Primordia Medicina Reproductiva, points out that, at the beginning of pregnancy, breast pain is an adaptation of the body to the body’s new hormonal dosage. “One of the first clinical symptoms in the pregnant woman’s body is the increase in volume and sensitivity in the breasts. This is due to the change in the hormonal profile that is characteristic of this initial phase. In the first trimester, the body is flooded with hormones such as beta HCG, estrogen and progesterone, and prolactin. These last three act on the breast specifically and are mainly responsible for this increase in sensitivity in the region”, he highlights.

How to deal with pain

Coslovsky points out that it is common for pregnant women to feel some discomfort in the first trimester, due to the hormonal increase. “In the third trimester, closer to childbirth, when the body starts to produce colostrum (first milk) effectively, the woman starts noticing the increase in breast volume and sensitivity again”, she says.

As it is a natural process of the body and a transformation intrinsic to pregnancy, highlights the gynecologist, there is no way to avoid this increase in sensitivity. “However, it is important to say that pain is not normal. It is normal for a woman to notice a significant increase in sensitivity, but not pain. The most advisable, in this case, is to look for the obstetrician and report the issue ”, he explains.

6. Treatment to get pregnant

Coslovsky explains that, during a fertilization treatment, a woman uses substances that activate the ovary. “These same drugs also promote an increase in estrogen and progesterone, which act on the breast and promote increased sensitivity. Pain in the breasts, in this case, can mean the exaggerated presence of hormones and medications in increased doses”, he highlights.

How to deal with pain

The gynecologist points out that only increased sensitivity is common. But cases of pain should be reported to the doctor, who will probably readjust the recommended dose of medicine.

important considerations

Badan points out that cyclical breast pain has a strong link to female hormones and the menstrual cycle, while non-cyclical breast pain often results from things that affect the composition of the breast, such as breast cysts, trauma, or surgery. “It can also be due to emotional stress, the use of certain medications, such as some antidepressants or from large breasts,” he says.

Breast pain, the doctor says, can also start outside the breast — in the chest wall, muscles, joints or heart, for example — and radiate to the breast.

The first thing to do in case of breast pain is to reassure the patient, as breast pain is rarely associated with breast cancer. “This alone often combats the stress generated by worry, promotes relaxation and symptom relief,” says Badan.

Second, still according to the doctor, it is necessary to identify the triggering factors and act on them. “Often this task is not easy and the help of a specialist is necessary. An action free of side effects and of great value is to encourage the prolonged use of the bra, as it leaves the breasts contained, preventing them from swaying and triggering mechanisms that trigger inflammation and pain”, concludes Badan.

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only. They do not replace the advice and follow-up of doctors, nutritionists, psychologists, physical education professionals and other specialists.