Tender breasts make up a large majority of breast complaints at any doctors office. With breast cancer awareness on the rise, breast pain may result in immediate alarm. However, it's important to remain calm when enduring breast tenderness and explore all of the possible causes. If you experience discomfort in your breasts, it's a good idea to play it safe and speak to your doctor.
Defined
You can describe the tenderness you feel in your breasts in a variety of ways. The pain may be localized to an area as small as one nipple or it may stretch all the way to your arm pit. Breast tenderness may occur in one or both breasts. Some women who experience tender breasts only feel pain when touched. Other complain of soreness all day long. A burning or tingling sensation may accompany the aching in your chest.
Check Your Bra
If your breasts are tender, first check your bra. The majority of women wear bras that don't fit properly. If your bra fits too snugly, your breasts can become tender. Consider getting fitted for a new bra and see if that solves your problem.
Menstrual Cycle
Due to hormonal fluctuation, your breasts may hurt around the time of your period. Since your menstrual cycle prepares your body for pregnancy, your milk ducts begin to stretch and your breasts hold water, causing breast pain. This cyclical pain should wane after you begin menstruation.
Pregnancy
Similar to what happens during your cycle, pregnancy often results in tender breasts. When you become pregnant, your body continues to release hormones that expand your milk ducts. As your breasts fill with milk, the pain increases. Pain may continue throughout your entire breast feeding period.
Menopause
When menopause nears, you may be susceptible to breast pain due to changing estrogen levels. Since hormones go nuts during menopause, your doctor might be able to help you balance your hormones with different medications. Otherwise, you may be in for a long period of time with tender breasts.
Cancer Myth
You've seen the pink ribbons and you've heard the horror stories. Now your breasts hurt and you're scared that you're the next victim. Well, don't be. The truth is, breast tenderness rarely accompanies breast cancer until the later stages and you will likely know if you have cancer way before the illness progresses that far. So take a deep breath and relax. However, continue your breast self-examinations. If you ever find anything suspicious, report it to your physician. It's always better to be safe than sorry. Your doctor is the only one who can completely rule out the possibility of breast cancer.
Tags: your breasts, breast cancer, breast pain, breast tenderness, breasts hurt, milk ducts
