Breast pain in women

If the chest pain occurs in the monthly cycle and is therefore hormonal, it is called mastodynia. Pain that occurs irregularly is called mastalgia. In the first half of the cycle, increased oestrogen is produced, in the second half the hormone progesterone.

The change in hormone release leads to increased water retention in the breasts before menstruation. Edema formation can be a trigger for breast pain. Another hormone (prolactin) has an influence on the breast tissue, as it prepares the glandular cells of the breast for milk production.

This increases the blood supply to the tissue, the glandular cells grow and produce more secretion. Hypersensitivity to the hormone prolactin can increase breast pain. Fibrocystic mastopathy is also dependent on the monthly cycle.

An ultrasound examination of the breast serves as proof. Other causes of breast pain are dilatation of the milk ducts, inflammation of the breast (mastitis), cysts, fatty tissue necrosis or breast cancer (breast cancer). In principle, women with breast pain should have a palpation and mammography.

Furthermore, an examination of the milk ducts (galactography), a tissue sample (biopsy) or a hormone level analysis can provide information about the causes of breast pain. The article Breast pain in pregnancy might be of interest to you in this regard. Similar to breast pain in pregnancy, breast pain also occurs in the menopause due to extreme changes in hormone balance.

This is often accompanied by hot flushes and discomfort. Not all women, but a considerable number experience the unpleasant symptoms of the menopause around the age of fifty. In contrast to the chest pain during pregnancy, which is caused by an extreme increase in hormone production, there is an extreme drop in estrogen production during the menopause.

In addition, the tissue changes, which can radiate unpleasant restructuring processes. The cause of the pain is therefore quite natural and the body will get used to the new circumstances over time. If the symptoms are extremely restrictive, the treating doctor can prescribe hormone therapy.

The therapist can influence unpleasant symptoms with relaxation measures such as light massages of tense tissue, heat or cooling systems, wraps, packs, water therapy and other measures – depending on the individual condition of the patient. Active perception and relaxation exercises from yoga, meditation or autogenic training can also have a positive influence on the menopause.

Touches become unpleasant
The chest tightens, pulls and hurts
Tense feeling of water retention, which is another reaction to the hormone drop