Could it be a sign of pregnancy?
A swelling of the breast with feelings of tension can also be a sign of pregnancy. In pregnancy, the breast prepares for breastfeeding shortly after the egg has been implanted by means of various remodelling processes. Pain in the breast or nipple is a normal symptom. In order to determine whether a pregnancy is actually present, an additional pregnancy test should be carried out, as pain in the breast alone is not a sure sign of pregnancy.
Associated symptoms
In addition to the main symptom of chest pain, up to 50% of all women experience other symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. This syndrome comprises a large complex of symptoms, but not all of them have to occur and may also be present in varying intensity. This can lead to increased fluid retention in the hands, legs and feet, which manifests itself with a certain weight gain and can also trigger feelings of tension.
In addition to chest pain, headache and back pain are typical for the period shortly before menstruation. Headaches can also manifest themselves in the form of migraine, which is also characterised by increased sensitivity to external stimuli such as light or sounds. Further accompanying symptoms are nausea and diarrhoea, as well as ravenous appetite and loss of appetite. The mood of the women is rather depressed and a lack of drive can be observed. In rare cases, these changes in mood can even lead to depressive episodes or anxiety.
What causes chest pain between ovulation and menstruation?
Breast pain is triggered by the influence of the hormone progesterone, which is increased in the second phase of the cycle, i.e. after ovulation until period. The task of progesterone is to prepare the body for a possible implantation of the egg in case of fertilisation. In doing so, it acts on the uterus, but also on the breast.
The effect can be seen in the storage of fluid in the breast tissue. Furthermore, the blood vessels in the breast are more open during this phase so that better blood circulation takes place. Due to these changes the breast appears swollen and heavier.
The increase in volume within the breast leads to feelings of tension and in some cases to chest pain. In addition to the tension pain, there is a second mechanism of action that can trigger the breast pain. The breast becomes more sensitive to external stimuli in the second half of the cycle. This means to touches or changes in temperature. This increased sensitivity can also trigger pain.
What post-ovulatory chest pain is normal?
A chest pain after ovulation is only normal if it can be explained by a specific cause. These include an injury to the breast or ribcage, a medical intervention on the breast or pregnancy. If the chest pain cannot be explained by a known cause, a medical examination should be carried out, as a number of causes, mostly benign in nature, are possible. An example would be mastopathy, which is caused by a defective regulation of the female hormones, or a benign soft tissue tumour in the breast.
