![]() A concurrent increase in prolactin, causing increased ductal secretion, also contributes towards pain and swelling during this phase. The periodic discomfort is because of the increase in estrogen level that stimulates the ductal elements of the breast, while simultaneously, there is a decrease in progesterone stimulation of stroma. Ĭyclic breast pain, which is related to hormonal changes, is predominantly associated with the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and improves with the onset of menses. Some studies claim that anxiety, stress, and depression are contributing factors, while a few others mention that caffeinated drinks, fatty diet, and smoking also play a major role in its development. The use of certain medications has also been implicated with breast pain which includes, OCPs (oral contraceptive pills), estrogen, and progesterone hormonal therapies, certain antidepressants like SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), and antihistamines. Non-Cyclic breast pain results from changes in the anatomical structure like the development of breast cyst, prior breast trauma or surgery, injury to the chest wall, muscle, or joint, intercostal neuralgia, Tietze syndrome, and other spinal and paraspinal disorders which can cause referred breast pain. Moreover, this cyclic pain often abates with pregnancy or menopause, which further strengthens the etiologic role of hormonal fluctuations. However, increased sensitivity of breast tissue towards the hormonal variation during the menstrual cycle plays a vital role in the development of cyclic mastalgia. The exact etiology of mastalgia remains undefined. For example, pain originating from the chest wall (costochondritis), epigastric pain in GERD, or pain of gallbladder and stomach disease can be referred to give a false impression of breast pain. Extramammary breast pain feels as if it starts in the breast tissue, but in fact, it is a referred pain having its origin somewhere else. It refers to the breast pain that is originating from a location outside the breast, such as the heart, lung, chest wall, or the esophagus. Most likely affect women in their 30s and 50s. They are unilateral, constant, or intermittent, affecting one breast with a pinpoint localized area of involvement. These are generally described as a localized sharp, burning breast pain. Instead, they are often related to internal anatomical changes, injuries, surgery, infections, or sometimes associated with other breast pathology, i.e., breast cysts or fibroadenoma. Most commonly seen in premenopausal women in the third or fourth decades of life.īreast pain that is not associated with the menstrual cycle and does not vary with hormonal changes in the body. Pain intensifies a couple of weeks before the start of periods, decreasing on the day when bleeding starts and subsides over the next few days. ![]() Still, professionals recommend a detailed medical review with proper history and physical exam done by a primary caregiver to rule out any such possibility.īreast pain that is associated with the menstrual cycle due to hormonal variation often associated with breast swelling, tenderness, and lumpiness and generally bilateral in nature. ![]() However, it is generally believed that in the majority of cases, such breast pain is not a sign of cancer. Many a time, it is not possible to determine the exact cause of such breast pain. The breast pain ranges from mild to severe, could be intermittent or constant throughout the day, and may interfere with the female's quality of life. It is most common in premenopausal and perimenopausal women, but postmenopausal women can also rarely develop such pain. Most often, it is located in the upper outer quadrant of the breast and can sometimes radiate to an ipsilateral arm. Approximately two-thirds of women during their reproductive lives suffer from this condition and seek medical help. It is a dull, aching pain while some women may describe it as heaviness, tightness, discomfort, or burning sensation in the breast tissue, which may be unilateral or bilateral. Mastalgia is a medical term used for breast pain, one of the most common complaints among women of 15 to 40 years of age (child-bearing age). ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |