In mastodynia (synonyms: Mammary gland pain; Breast pain; Chronic mastodynia; Mammary pain; Mastalgia; ICD-10-GM N64.4: Mastodynia) is a cyclic feeling of tightness in the breast or cyclic mammary gland pain.
Two-thirds of mastodynia occurs in a cycle-dependent manner.
Mastodynia is distinguished from mastalgia, which is a feeling of tightness in the breast or breast pain that is independent of the cycle.
Mastodynia can be a symptom of many diseases (see under “Differential diagnoses”).
Note: Women with isolated breast pain do not have an increased incidence of breast cancer (incidence of new cases of breast cancer) than women in the rest of the population, according to one study. This means that a comprehensive workup is unnecessary in these women who are not at risk for breast cancer.
Course and prognosis: Mastodynia occurs mainly in the second half of the cycle and is due to water retention. More than 50% of these women report relevant breast pain, which in 30-40% of cases leads to an impairment of everyday life and sexual life.If premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is the cause of mastodynia, it is pointed out that the complaints occur in women about 4 to 14 days before the next period and are accompanied by a complex picture of different symptoms and complaints (see below of the disease of the same name). Exercise or sporting activity can help to reduce water retention more quickly.