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Breast Pain (Mastalgia)

Table of Contents


Overview

Many women have breast tenderness and pain, also called mastalgia. It may come and go with monthly periods (cyclic) or may not follow any pattern (noncyclic).

Breast pain can get worse with changes in your hormone levels or changes in the medicines you are taking. Stress can also affect breast pain. You are more likely to have breast pain before menopause than after menopause.

Breast pain is not a common symptom of breast cancer. But in some cases painful lumps are caused by breast cancer.

Caring for yourself

You may be able to relieve breast pain by using nonprescription medicines. Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label. These medicines include:

If you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, talk to your doctor before using any medicine.

Do not take aspirin if you are younger than 20 because of the risk of Reye syndrome.

You may also be able to relieve breast pain by:

If breast pain becomes severe or lasts longer than 3 weeks, call your doctor to discuss your symptoms.

Medicines for breast pain

Danazol and tamoxifen citrate are prescription medicines used for the treatment of severe cyclic breast pain. These medicines are rarely used because they have significant side effects. It is important to determine whether the benefits will outweigh the risks of taking these medicines.

Birth control pills (oral contraceptives) may help reduce cyclic breast pain and breast swelling before periods. But breast pain is also a known side effect of birth control pills.

Preventing breast pain

You may be able to prevent breast pain, tenderness, or discomfort by wearing a sports bra during exercise. It is important that the sports bra fit properly. It should keep the breasts almost motionless and allow them to move together with the chest, not separately.

It is important to replace your sports bra as the material stretches and become less supportive. A young woman with developing breasts may need to buy a new bra every 6 months.


Credits for Breast Pain (Mastalgia)

Current as of: November 27, 2023

Author: Healthwise Staff (https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en)
Clinical Review Board (https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en)
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