Breast tenderness is an issue that a lot of women face. But so many of them don’t know the reason behind it, or how to treat it. In this article, we will talk about the types of breast tenderness and how to treat it.
In this article:
Types of Breast Tenderness
Is it Cancer?
7 Natural Remedies for Breast Tenderness
Types of Breast Tenderness
Cyclical Breast Pain
The most common sort of breast pain is linked to menstruation. It is nearly always hormonal. Some women begin to have pain during the time of ovulation. The pain continues until the start of their period. The pain may be barely noticeable. Or it’s going to be so severe that you simply can’t wear tight-fitting clothing or handle close contact of any kind. The pain could also be felt in just one breast. Or it’s going to be felt as a radiating feeling within the underarm area. Some healthcare providers have women chart their breast pain to work out if the pain is cyclical or not. After a couple of months, the link between the cycle and breast pain will appear.
Hormones might not provide the entire answer to cyclical breast pain. That’s because the pain is usually more severe in one breast than within the other. Hormones would tend to affect both breasts equally. Many researchers believe that the solution could also be a mixture of hormonal activity and something within the breast that responds to the present activity. More research is needed.
Noncyclic Breast Pain
Noncyclic breast pain is fairly uncommon, feels different than cyclical mastalgia, and doesn’t vary with the cycle. Generally, the pain is present all the time and is in just one specific location.
One explanation for noncyclic breast pain is trauma or a blow to the breast. Other causes can include arthritic pain within the thoracic cavity and within the neck, which radiates right down to the breast.
Is it Cancer?
Many women with breast pain are afraid they’ll have breast cancer. But breast pain is never linked to cancer. It shouldn’t be considered a possible symptom of carcinoma.
7 Natural Remedies for Breast Tenderness
When it’s Birth Control-Related
You’re not experiencing something out of the standard if you’ve got breast tenderness caused by your contraception pill. You should know that these side effects are temporary. However, if they don’t go away in two to three months, you should change to another type of pill. Just because one pill is causing breast tenderness does not imply that all pills are bad for you. There are many combinations of estrogen and progesterone and each type will affect you differently.
When it’s Nicotine- or Caffeine-Related
There are always little-known facts that surprise us, and this happened to be one among them. If you consume excessive amounts of caffeine or nicotine, then you will notice more breast tenderness. That is because caffeine and nicotine stimulate the breast tissue, making breasts more sensitive and painful, especially within the days leading up to a period. Your best bet is to scale back your caffeine and nicotine intake.
When it’s Pregnancy- or Postpartum-Related
As soon as you have a positive pregnancy test, your breasts become enlarged and tender. In fact, your breast size will increase two to three times during pregnancy and you ought to change your bra size to accommodate this increase. Plus, once you’re breastfeeding, your breasts will increase a few more sizes and therefore the tenderness will intensify. Doctors recommend a lactation consultant, all-purpose cream, lanolin cream, a hot pad, and consider hot showers to assist lessen the tenderness experienced during this point.
When it’s Due to a Poor-Fitting Bra
Poor support results in tender breasts no matter your size. A bra that is for daily use is usually form-fitting and prevents tenderness and sagging because it gives your breast tissue support during your typical daily activities. It is important to urge properly fitted by an expert if you’ve got any questions on what size—or bra—to wear.
When it’s Exercise-Related
If you don’t wear a sports bra and prefer to wear your everyday bra during exercise, the fragile and sensitive breast tissue will bounce and move in such a way that breast tenderness will occur. Furthermore, if you continuously exercise without the acceptable bra, breast tissue with its fibrous ligaments and adipose tissue will still be tender and saggy.
When it’s Related to Cysts
Some women have fibrocystic or dense cystic breasts, meaning that they’re classically lumpy and tender in one or both breasts. Although it’s a benign disease, it affects a whopping 60% of women and can cause discomfort. Treatment includes wearing a supportive bra (sometimes even at night); taking tylenol or advil; and taking vitamins c, e, b6, and a.
When no Real Cause can be Found
In cases where there isn’t a specific cause for breast tenderness, over-the-counter remedies, such as evening primrose oil, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and vitamin e, can help with the discomfort. This should all be done along with wearing a supportive bra and eating a healthy diet.
And when unsure, always ask your doctor.
Breast tenderness can be treated if detected at the right time, so always make sure that you get tests done by your doctor.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmc4785698/
