Breast Pain Causes

Breast Pain Is Also Known as Mastalgia 

While breast pain, which is also known as mastalgia, can be very unsettling, it should be noted that breast pain usually doesn't result in a diagnosis of breast cancer. In fact, research has shown that breast pain is not a common a symptom of breast cancer. It occurs in just 2 to 7 percent of breast cancer cases. 

Meanwhile, as many as 70 percent of women experience breast pain at some time. Many (research indicates the number may be as high as 50 percent) experience some degree of breast pain or discomfort as many as five days a month. Sometimes it can last throughout their menstrual cycle, and be intense enough to interfere with daily activities and relationships.

Doctors generally separate breast pain into two general categories: cyclical and non-cyclical.

Cyclical breast pain is pain that is typical during a woman's menstrual cycle. It characteristically occurs in women during their child-bearing years, intensifies in the two week period before their period begins, is felt in both breasts, and is usually described as a dull, aching discomfort.

Non-cyclical breast pain is not related to your menstrual cycle, may come and go, often occurs in just one breast or in a localized area, and can be described as a soreness or burning type of discomfort.

Sometimes, you may experience pain in the breast region that is unrelated to the breasts. For instance, a pulled muscle can cause pain in your chest wall or rib cage which feels as if it's in your breast.

If you have persistent breast pain, or unusual breast pain that raises your level concern about breast cancer, you should definitely talk to your doctor.

Breast pain causes

Diagnosing the cause of breast pain can be problematic, but a number of probable possibilities include the following.

Non-cyclical factors. These include cysts, injury or surgery on or near the breasts. Breast size sometimes plays a role. Women with especially large breasts often experience mastalgia accompanied by pain in the neck, shoulders and back.

Hormonal factors. As mentioned above, mastalgia seems to have a connection to menstrual cycles. The fact that pregnant women and postmenopausal women often experience no breast pain lends credence to this possibility.

Chemical imbalances. Fatty acid levels in the cells may play a role.

Medications. Some infertility treatments and oral contraceptives appear to be related to mastalgia. Breast tenderness may also be a side effect of estrogen and progesterone hormone therapy. Some women who take certain antidepressants have reported breast pain, and there may be a connection to such medications as fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft).

Treatment

Make an appointment with your doctor if you have breast pain that you feel in one particular area within your breast. A doctor's visit would also be appropriate if breast persists daily for more than a couple of weeks, or if your breast pain seems to be getting worse over time.

Often, no treatment is needed for breast pain, and it passes on its own with time.

When treatment is appropriate, however, it usually focuses on finding the underlying cause of the discomfort.

Sometimes the solution can be as simple as using a different bra that offers more support.

Oral contraceptives, hormone therapy and other types of medications, as noted above, sometimes play a role in causing mastalgia. Talk to your doctor about trying a different prescription or regimen.

Certain prescription medication, such as danazol, bromocriptine or tamoxifen, have shown promise in relieving severe mastalgia.

When breast pain is localized, you may get some relief by using topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. These can be applied directly to the painful area.