Many women have breast pain at some point in their lives. There are many things that can cause it, and the pain can range from mild to severe.
When women press their breasts, they often want to know why it hurts. In this article, we’ll talk about what could be causing breast pain and why pressing on it might hurt.
Understanding Breast Pain
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a. What Breast Pain Means
Mastalgia, which is another name for breast pain, is a symptom that many women have. It can feel like a dull ache, a burning sensation, or a sharp pain in one or both breasts.
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B. Different kinds of breast pain
There are two kinds of breast pain: those that come and go and those that don’t. Cyclical breast pain is linked to a woman’s menstrual cycle and is more common in younger women. Non-cyclical breast pain doesn’t have anything to do with your period and can happen at any time.
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c. What Can Cause Breast Pain
There are many things that can cause breast pain, like hormonal changes, an injury to the breast, breastfeeding, breast surgery, or taking certain medications. In some cases, no one knows what causes breast pain.
Why Does My Breast Hurt When I Press It?
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a. Changes Caused by Fibrocystic Breast
Most of the time, fibrocystic breast changes are harmless. They show up in the breasts as lumps, cysts, and areas of thickened tissue. These changes can make your breasts hurt, and the pain may be worse when you press on them.
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b. Breast Infection (Mastitis)
A breast infection, also called mastitis, can make your breasts hurt, swell up, and turn red. Most of the time, it happens to women who are breastfeeding, but it can also happen to women who aren’t breastfeeding. Bacteria can get into the breast tissue through a crack in the nipple and cause mastitis.
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c. Breast Cancer
Less often, breast pain is caused by breast cancer, but it can happen. When you press on a breast that has breast cancer, it can sometimes hurt. Other signs of breast cancer are a lump in the breast, discharge from the nipple, and changes in the way the breast looks.
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d. Other Reasons Why Your Breasts Hurt
Breast abscess, costochondritis (inflammation of the cartilage that connects the ribs to the breastbone), and shingles are also things that can cause breast pain (a viral infection that can cause a painful rash).
Diagnosis of Breast Pain
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a. Medical History
When trying to figure out why you are having breast pain, your doctor will look at your medical history. This includes how long and what kind of pain you are having, as well as any other symptoms and medications you are taking.
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b. Physical Examination
Your doctor will also look at your breasts to see if there are any lumps, changes in the size or shape of your breasts, or areas that hurt.
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c. Imaging Tests
Imaging tests like a mammogram, ultrasound, or MRI may be used to help figure out why a woman is having pain in her breasts. These tests can help find things like cysts, masses, or areas of inflammation in the breast tissue.
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d. Biopsy
If your doctor finds a lump in your breast, he or she may suggest that you get a biopsy. During a biopsy, a small piece of tissue is taken from the lump and looked at under a microscope to see if it has cancer or anything else that shouldn’t be there.
How to Treat Breast Pain
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a. Self-Care Measures
Many times, you can treat your own breast pain by doing things like wearing a bra that fits well, putting hot or cold packs on your breasts, and staying away from caffeine and alcohol. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can also help with breast pain.
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b. Taking medicine
If self-care doesn’t help, your doctor may suggest medications, like hormonal therapy, to help fix hormonal imbalances that could be causing your breast pain.
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c. Operation
In very rare cases, a cyst or other abnormality that is causing breast pain may need to be taken out through surgery.
When to go to the doctor
If you have any of the following, you should see a doctor:
- A bump in the breast
- Nipple discharge
- Changes in the way the breasts look, like dimples or puckered skin
- Breasts that are red, swollen, or hot
- Pain in the breasts that doesn’t go away
How to Stop Breast Pain
To help keep breast pain from happening, you can:
- Wear a bra that fits well.
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol
- Keep your weight in a good range.
- Exercise regularly
- Do regular self-exams of your breasts
Conclusion
Many women have breast pain at some point in their lives. There are many things that can cause breast pain, but you should see a doctor if you have any other symptoms or if the pain doesn’t go away. By taking care of yourself and making changes to your lifestyle, you can help stop breast pain from happening.
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FAQs
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Can stress cause pain in the breasts?
Stress can cause changes in hormones, which can cause breast pain.
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Can pain in the breasts be a sign of being pregnant?
Breast pain during the first trimester can be a sign of pregnancy.
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Can pain in the breasts be a sign of cancer?
Pain in the breast is not a very common sign of breast cancer, but it can happen.
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Can a bra that doesn’t fit cause breast pain?
Wearing a bra that doesn’t fit right can hurt your breasts, so it’s important to wear one that does.
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Can exercise cause breast pain?
Physical activity or exercise that is too hard can cause breast pain, but it usually only lasts for a short time and goes away when the activity stops.