click & seeBreast pain can range from mild tenderness to a dull ache to a stabbing sensation in the breasts (milk-producing glands composed of fat and other tissue). According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health, approximately 50 percent of all women experience breast pain at some point in their lives.
In most cases, breast pain is caused by hormonal changes, such as those associated with the onset of puberty, menstruation, menopause, pregnancy and breastfeeding. In addition, certain medications, such as antidepressants, cardiovascular agents or oral contraceptives (birth control pills), can cause breast pain. However, women should notify their physician immediately if they experience breast pain that is persistent, more intense than usual or recurrent, especially if it is exhibited in only one breast…..click & see
Diagnosis of breast pain typically begins with a complete medical history and physical examination. Treatment for breast pain is directly related to the cause of the pain. For less serious causes of breast pain, treatment may be as simple as wearing a support bra or taking a pain reliever. For more severe cases of breast pain, there are medications that can relieve the discomfort. For women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, all drugs should be approved by a physician prior to use to avoid possible harm to the baby.
About breast pain
Breasts are milk-producing glands that are made up of fat and other tissue, including nerves, blood vessels and milk ducts (small tube-like paths). Breast pain can occur in a variety of forms – from a slight tenderness to a dull ache to a stabbing pain. Approximately half of all women experience breast pain at some point in their lives, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.
The medical terms for breast pain include mastalgia, mastodynia and mammalgia. It is usually caused by normal hormonal changes in a woman’s body, such as those associated with menstruation. Because of its strong association with hormones, breast pain or tenderness is more common in premenopausal women than in postmenopausal women. Some experts believe that stress can be another factor that affects the development and severity of breast pain. Other conditions that commonly cause breast pain include:
Pregnancy
Breastfeeding
Fibrocystic breast changes
Breast cysts (fluid-filled sacs inside the breast)
Breast infection (mastitis)
Injury or trauma to the breast
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
Water retention (common during menstruation)
Surgery to the breast (e.g., breast implants)
Other, less common conditions that can cause breast pain include:
Poorly fitting bra or uncomfortable clothing
Medications, such as antidepressants, cardiovascular agents or oral contraceptives
Excessive caffeine consumption
Breast cancer
Nipple piercing that becomes infected
Mondor’s disease (a blood clot in the breast)
Liver damage from alcoholism
Shingles
Arthritis or a pinched nerve in the neck area
Inflammation of a rib joint
Muscle pulls or strains
Source:www.healthline.com