Breast pain before your period

5 or 10 days before the onset of menstruation, many women (95%) feel pain in the chest. These are fairly common complaints that doctors consider normal rather than abnormal. Why do chest pains occur before menstruation, what to do about it and should anything be done at all?

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Mastalgia or mastodynia

Any form of breast pain may be known by the general term mastalgia or mastodynia. Breast pain can have different origins and doctors often differentiate between two types of pain that may occur. These are called non-cyclic and cyclic.

Mastalgia and cancer

Mastalgia is often mistaken for a precursor to cancer by women who suffer from it. There are several forms of breast cancer that can cause inflammation, but they are extremely rare. Most breast cancers do not cause breast pain before menstruation. However, concerns about the potential for cancer should be addressed with a mammogram. On the other hand, if breast pain persists and is severe, routine screening may not provide any diagnostic benefit.

Other Causes of Breast Pain Before Period

Sometimes pain that seems to be related to the menstrual cycle is a symptom of an underlying disease for some women. Or, for example, a regular uncomfortable or tight bra can be a problem. Breast pain does not usually indicate breast cancer, although it does not hurt to listen to the doctor's recommendations to make sure.

Men and boys can also suffer from chest pain, and this is especially common during puberty when the breasts are developing. Also, in young girls, chest pain before menstruation can be associated with the period of breast growth. Stress can also affect chest pain.

Cyclic pain

Cyclic forms of breast pain are very familiar to some women, and often occur at specific times during the menstrual cycle. If mastalgia does not occur consistently, doctors can sometimes diagnose it by needing a woman to tell them the exact dates she experiences pre-period pain each month. Cyclic-type pain tends to occur at about the same time each month, and many women may experience this pain a week or a few days before their period.

Cyclic breast pain (cyclic mastalgia) is very often associated with fibrocystic breast changes and is thought to be caused by abnormalities in dynamic hormonal changes, mainly involving the hormone prolactin.[1][2] Some cyclic breast pain is normal during and in the week before the menstrual cycle and is usually associated with menstrual and/or premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

The degree of pain may vary depending on the health of the women who experience cyclic mastalgia. Sometimes the breasts swell and even the touch of the fabric of a shirt or bra may be too painful for the woman. This pain may be in one or both breasts. Similar breast pain may be felt due to major hormonal changes, such as those associated with early pregnancy and early lactation. Although these pains usually subside, they are initially very difficult to bear and sometimes excruciating for some women.

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Non-cyclic pain

Non-cyclic mastalgia usually has no apparent cause related to hormones or the menstrual cycle. It can be the result of a breast injury, infection, or sometimes muscle or joint pain that can trigger inflammation of the breast. Some people with arthritis suffer from this condition.

Other causes of non-cyclic premenstrual breast pain include alcoholism with liver damage (likely due to abnormal steroid metabolism), mastitis, and use of drugs such as diuretics, oxymetholone (anabolic steroids), and chlorpromazine (typical antidepressants).[3]

When women go to the doctor to get treatment for mastalgia, it is important to first determine the cause. If a hormonal cause is suspected, doctors may treat the woman by increasing the dose of some hormones or decreasing others, sometimes using male steroids or drugs such as tamoxifen.

Sometimes, when breast pain comes and goes, doctors may ask patients to wait a few weeks to see if their condition improves. This may be especially true during early pregnancy or breastfeeding, as breast pain is a normal symptom during these times. On the other hand, during lactation, breast and milk duct infections or mastitis should be considered as a potential cause of mastalgia.

Treatment

Treatment options for non-cyclical types of mastalgia also depend on the cause. Breast injuries may be treated with painkillers, ice packs, and rest. Treatment for underlying conditions, such as arthritis, may vary and depend on the type of pain. If these conditions are ruled out, treatment may include painkillers and advice to wear a comfortable, loose-fitting bra.

In severe cases of cyclical pain, women may find relief from treatments such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or drugs that affect hormone levels. Natural remedies such as evening primrose oil and vitamin B6 are also sometimes recommended for pre-period breast pain.

Breast pain and menopause

There is also a connection between menopause and breast pain, breast pain before menstruation is often a symptom of impending menopause. Breast pain is usually affected by hormonal imbalances during or before menopause and pregnancy, before and during menstruation. Sometimes breast pain can accompany the onset of menopause, and this is not related to hormones, for example, with non-cyclic breast pain.

Menopause and breast pain are related because hormonal imbalances often occur during menopause. A woman's breasts can respond with pain at any time when there is an imbalance of hormones. Other common examples of breast pain due to hormonal imbalances may not be during menstruation and pregnancy. Breast pain can occur during premenopause, perimenopause, and menopause. The symptoms of these pains are most common during all of these periods.

Simple measures such as choosing the right bra that comfortably and effectively supports your breasts can also reduce pain levels.

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Breast pain and hormones

The hormones that affect menopause and breast pain are the same hormones that cause similar symptoms during menstruation and pregnancy. These hormones are estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. The levels of these hormones fluctuate during these periods and can cause breast pain and abdominal cramping.

Every woman is affected differently by these hormonal fluctuations. Women's hormone levels, physiology, and genetics are unique, and so the pain symptoms are unique to each woman. Menopause and breast pain may not affect the quality of life of some women, while for other women it can cause severe discomfort.

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Symptoms of Breast Pain Before Period

Breast pain is defined as general discomfort, pain, or tenderness in one or both breasts. The medical terms for breast pain are mastalgia, mammarygia, and mastodynia. Up to 70% of women experience breast pain during their lifetime. Fortunately, most symptoms are quite mild. Only about 10% of women experience severe symptoms due to breast pain before their period.

The nature of cyclic pain

During menopause and before menstruation, breast pain can manifest itself in different ways. Pain before menstruation can be constant or intermittent. Pain can manifest itself in one or both breasts, it can be pain in the entire breast or localized in one part of the breast. Breast pain before menstruation can be accompanied by swelling of the breast, sharp, burning or dull pain, or aching sensations in the chest.

The most common type of breast pain before menstruation is cyclical. Women describe it as a dull, aching pain, or heavy breasts, as well as swelling of the breasts and roughness on their skin. Cyclical breast pain usually affects both breasts. This tendency extends to the perimenopausal and premenstrual periods in women.

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Character of non-cyclic pain

A less common type of breast pain is non-cyclical, which is not caused by hormonal changes. This type of pain is most common in postmenopausal women and is experienced as soreness, burning, or pressure, usually affecting both breasts. Recurring pain may occur during menopause, but is not related to menopause. The pain may occur in the breast, usually due to a pulled muscle. Non-cyclical pain is most common in women between the ages of 30 and 50.

Breast pain can be alarming for many women and their families because of the suspicion of breast cancer. But this is not the case - it is usually a signal that hormonal changes occurring in the body affect the mammary glands. If a woman has breast pain before her period or during menopause, and this is accompanied by a feeling as if there are lumps in the breast, a doctor should consult as soon as possible.

What tests should women with chest pain do?

Whether you will be bothered by chest pain before your period depends on the functioning of the reproductive system, in particular, the ovaries. Therefore, if you are bothered by chest pain, when it occurs, you should do the following tests: Breast ultrasound starting from the 6th to the 10th day after the onset of the menstrual cycle Ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs (done on the 7th day of the menstrual cycle) Hormonal analysis for prolactin and thyroid hormones Analysis of tumor markers, especially the ovaries and mammary glands

What can be done to relieve breast pain before periods?

You can relieve chest pain with over-the-counter medications, including:

1. Acetaminophen.
2. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), naproxen (Aleve or Naprosyn), or aspirin (Anacin, Bayer). Be sure to follow all of your doctor's instructions. If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, talk to your doctor before using any medication. Do not take aspirin if you are under 20 because of the risk of Reye's syndrome.
3. Danazol and tamoxifen citrate are prescription medications used to treat severe cyclical breast pain. These medications are rarely used because they have significant side effects. It is important to first determine whether the benefits outweigh the risks of taking these medications.
4. Use of birth control pills (oral contraceptives). This can help reduce cyclical breast pain and breast swelling for a certain time. But breast pain is also a known side effect of oral birth control.
5. Taking magnesium. Magnesium taken during the second half of your menstrual cycle (usually 2 weeks before your next period) can help relieve cyclical breast pain as well as other PMS symptoms.
6. Reducing fat to 15% or less in your diet may reduce breast pain over time. One recent study found that dietary changes significantly reduced premenstrual breast pain.

Some women find that pre-period breast pain is reduced when they reduce the amount of caffeine they drink with coffee or eat with chocolate. You can prevent breast pain, soreness, or discomfort by wearing a sports bra when you exercise. This bra will keep your breasts relatively still and allow them to move with your rib cage rather than apart.

It is important to replace your sports bra, which stretches out and becomes less helpful for swollen breasts before your period. Young girls with developing breasts may need to buy a new bra every 6 months.