There are many reasons why your breasts can feel sore, and therefore this should not always be charged as a symptom of breast cancer. This condition can be so annoying especially when at work whereby by you are always tempted to keep on putting your hand there.
However, just because the condition is not always dangerous, that doesn’t mean that you should just ignore any aches, soreness, or other unusual feelings that turn up in your breasts. The moment your breasts feel sore or any other strange feeling it is important you find out what could be the cause of it.
While your condition persists, it is important to know what your breasts feel sore especially within just a short period of time. In some cases you may have put on a bra in the morning, while you try to do something that requires you to stretch you feel an annoying twinge of pain in one or both of your breasts.
Researchers say that while a lot of women may get worried when they realize a sharp sore feeling in their breasts, it is nothing to worry about. It has been revealed that breast pain is a much more common thing and harmless than you might think.
If in your case you have breast pain accompanied with sudden, severe, or seems to be related to a new lump, that should be investigated by your doctor. This can help ease your mind to know that breast pain is more often associated with a bunch of other symptoms. The way you work out, the medications you take and your period can all cause some unfortunate soreness in your breasts.
Why does my Breast feel Sore and tender?
The following are common causes:
- You are about to get your period
Progesterone production peaks in the week before you get your period, which can cause expansion of the milk duct and lead to pre-menstrual breast tenderness. This is known as a “cyclical” form of breast pain, meaning that it occurs on a regular schedule. In fact, if your cycles are super regular, you can use this breast soreness to actually feel when your period is on its way.
- Sign of perimenopause
Just as predictable, monthly breast pain signals that the inner workings of your reproductive cycle are proceeding as scheduled, unpredictable breast pain can be a sign that your reproductive organs are stopping their normal reproduction cycle. Random breast pain is a common sign of the stage before true menopause sets in, a phase that most women enter into between the ages of 45 and 55.
However you should not be worried that you are somehow going into early menopause if your breasts seem to suddenly be aching at all different points of the month. Premature menopause is rare, and the odds that you have it, especially absent any of the other symptoms like periods or common causes like ovary removal are usually low.
- Early signs of pregnancy
A hormone called Progesterone will cause breast soreness during your menstrual cycle. The same hormone also jumps in production in the early days of a pregnancy. This is the reason why for numerous women when breats feel sore, it is a sign of pregnancy. In case this information makes you scared, take comfort in the fact that many mothers say that there are differences between pregnancy breast pain and period breast pain. The pregnancy one is often more extreme, lasts for a longer amount of time, and is usually accompanied by other early pregnancy symptoms, like nausea.
- You have a wrong bra size
Your breasts feel sore maybe because your bra size is wrong, and this is more severe if you wore a tighter bra than your size should be, or by not providing adequate support to the breast throughout the day. This, however, can easily be solved by getting a bra fitting at your local bra-specialty shop, department-store lingerie section, or other place where specially trained women can take measurement of your bra size, so that you get the right one to avoid hearting yourself.
- You’re over-caffeinated
It is also believed that your breasts feel sore sometime because of consuming too much caffeine, especially in women with fibrocystic breasts, which are often more vulnerable to breast pain. Though no formal laboratory studies have found caffeine to have an impact on breast sensitivity, some women find that cutting caffeine helps with random aches and pains in their chesticles.
- A pool of a muscle
Excessive exercise may cause pain or soreness, especially in women with large breasts. Reducing exercise that causes stress here may be helpful. If it cannot be avoided, such as for athletes or those who work in active environments, sports bras may take undue stress from the body.
Physical activities that engage the pectorals like playing rugby and shoveling snow can strain chest muscles, like the pectoralis major. These strains, which can feel like it’s emanating from inside the breast, is actually in the muscle below the breast tissue, and while it’s a fairly rare injury, it can require surgery, so please, see a doctor if you think you may have sprained your boob.
- You’re just not that into someone
It is believed that breasts have the added bonus of generally coming into play sooner in a sexual encounter than our vaginas — so if your breasts feel weird, or just not engorged or engaged while you’re making out with someone, it can be a helpful sign that you need to take things slower, or that you’re less into this encounter than you thought.
- Water Retention
Water retention due to salts, inactivity or medical symptoms may cause breasts to become heavier. If you determine that your diet is rich in salt, then it may be advantageous to reduce your intake. Increased exercise may also reduce water retention. As exercise – as discussed later – may be a cause of breast pain, it is important to follow an appropriate course of action.
- Animal Fats
Studies have shown that animal fat may be attributed to soreness in breasts. It is unclear whether the fats themselves are the culprit or if the animal hormones are the cause. Since potentially debilitating breast pain can have such an influence on your life, it may be wise to take a second look at meat consumption.
- Dairy Products
Like animal fats, the reasons for the link between breast pain and dairy are not yet determined. Because of common agricultural practices, dairy animals may be supplemented with extra hormones to increase production. While dairy and dairy fats may be the cause of increased breast pains, it is also possible that these hormones and chemicals may be culpable. Reduce dairy consumption if you find that you are consuming it on a daily basis or in excess before you experience sore breasts.
- Birth Control and Hormone Therapy
While beneficial for reducing the chances of pregnancy, birth control may have a strong impact on your body’s natural hormone production. Additionally, hormone therapy may be influential in the negative side effects of pain and displeasure. Speak with your medical provider about any concerns you may have regarding side effects.
- Stress
Stress can cause many problems people at all times in their life. That soreness could just be one of the reason for your stress. You may find that stress may be a catalyst for these sensations, so it is wise to reduce stress on your body and in your life when you notice bodily pain.
Why you get Sore Breast before Period
As we have discussed above, female who have attained a menstruating age are likely to have their reproductive areas feel feel sore a day or two before they get their periods. All this pain is caused by normal changes that take place in your hormonal balance. It is usually all due to hormonal fluxes in the menstrual cycle. Estrogen reaches a peak around the middle of your cycle, and progesterone reaches its peak the following week.
When it turns out that both are at very high levels during the middle of your cycle, you may start experiencing soreness in your breasts. Your breasts are particularly affected because they have estrogen and progesterone receptors, so they are especially picked on in that way.
Can you get Sore Breasts after Period?
Apart from just before periods, it is also possible for soreness and tenderness during and after the menstrual cycle. This is not an indication of pregnancy, but rather a potential indication of symptoms that may be caused by diet, hormones, stress or other causes. There are numerous things that can cause you to have breast feel sore and many of them we have talked about them above.
Pain is often incorrectly self- diagnosed as a more serious problem. However, as sore breasts and other pains can range from mild to severe and acute to chronic, it may be beneficial to speak with a medical professional. Breast pain during pregnancy, lactation and weaning are not unusual and therefore not associated with mastalgia. Both cyclical and non-cyclical mastalgia may be present, with cyclical mastalgia being the most common occurrence.
To just touch on examples, vasodilators, chemicals that cause the dilation of blood vessels, may cause stretching, distention and stress. Because of this influence, pain and other unpleasant sensations maybe felt. If you find that you are excessively using these drugs or chemicals, then it may be beneficial for your health to reduce consumption.
Is Sore Breasts a Sign of Menopause?
Sore breasts can be as well as a result of menopause as we said above on causes, along with other symptoms like hot flashes and vaginal dryness. When you enter menopause, your monthly menstrual periods stop. This is because your body is no longer producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone.
Menopause is not usually just a stopping point but it is usually a gradual process that usually takes between four to eight years. This gradual period that will result up to menopause is called perimenopause. It can be realized when the periods starts becoming irregular. Perimenopause usually begins when you’re in your 40s.
You are generally considered to be in menopause after you haven’t had a period in a full year. During this time, you may experience a range of symptoms, from hot flashes to vaginal dryness and sore breasts.
Is Breast tenderness and Sore a Sign Pregnancy
Sensitive, sore and tingling breasts are one of the earliest signs that you’re pregnant. You may have noticed this tenderness from about three weeks or four weeks of your pregnancy, before you even did a pregnancy test.
During this time your breasts may become so tender that even your clothes brushing against them feels unbearable. You may also not like having your breasts touched. This will pass, and the soreness is likely to lessen after your first trimester.
When you get to your second trimester, your surging hormone levels will settle down. This won’t necessarily spell the end of sore breasts altogether, though. Tenderness may still happen now and then throughout your pregnancy.
Why breasts feel sore during pregnancy
- As your body gears up to support your growing baby, you produce more of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone. A similar hormone surge happens to you before a period, so this tenderness is probably an exaggerated version of how your breasts feel then.
- Along with the effects of a hormone surge, your breasts are likely to be getting bigger. The fat layer in them thickens, milk glands multiply, and blood flow increases. As uncomfortable as it may feel, these changes are preparing your breasts for the important role of feeding your baby.
- Your breasts may grow rapidly in early pregnancy, or they may grow gradually as your pregnancy progresses. Or you may not even notice much difference in the size of your breasts until the end of your pregnancy. When it does happen, the change in size can be quite dramatic, particularly if this is your first pregnancy. You will probably go up a couple of cup sizes by the time you have your baby. Don’t worry if this hasn’t happened by the end of pregnancy, as your breasts may expand more once your baby has arrived.
Can you have Sore Breasts and not Pregnant?
We have seen that your breasts feel sore when you are pregnant. However you may have this feeling as well when you are not pregnant. There are some other many reasons that we have discussed in this contexts that will leave you with soreness while you are not pregnant. Many women experience this symptom just prior to the onset of menstruation. Depending on the woman, it may feel like soreness, stabbing pain, heaviness or burning pain. Typically, women experience sore breasts in their upper breast area from their armpits across the chest.
A major reason for breast pain is menstruation and changes in hormonal levels. If the pain is severe or chronic, it could be a sign of something worse. Since sore breasts can be a sign of breast cancer, it is worth it to go to a doctor and get professionally checked out to be on the safe side.
How to Treat Sore Breast
There are many treatments from many cultures to relieve pain in the breasts. While it is acceptable to follow folk remedies, it is always favorable to make proper changes. Dietary changes, either eliminating negative foods or adding beneficial foods, will likely take some monitoring to determine its benefits. Exercise may also be a cause or help in regards to these pains. Medical needs may require an appointment or discussion with a doctor.
Home remedies
- Ice Pack
The cold temperature will numb the tender area as well as reduce swelling and pain. Place a few ice cubes in a plastic bag, and wrap it with a washcloth and apply this ice pack to each of your breasts for about 10 minutes. You can also use a warm compress, or alternating warm and cold compresses to reduce the swelling and tenderness.
- Self-Massage
When you try a self –massage, it will help reduce inflammation as well as improve blood circulation. This will help maintain healthy breast tissues and more nutrients will reach the breasts to prevent pain and tenderness. When you are in the shower, soap your breasts and then gently massage them for a few minutes from the center of your chest out to your armpits. If breastfeeding, do not apply soap to the nipples.
- Evening Primrose Oil
One of the best treatments for breast pain is evening primrose oil. This oil contains the active ingredient gamolenic acid (GLA), a kind of fatty acid that helps the body respond well to hormonal changes. This in turn eases breast tenderness and pain. Apply evening primrose oil externally on your breasts and massage gently for a few minutes.
- Chaste berry
The herb chaste berry can also be used to treat cyclical mastalgia and other symptoms. This herb has a positive effect on the pituitary gland to suppress the release of prolactin, a hormone responsible for PMS symptoms, including tender and painful breasts.
The typical dose of dry chaste berry extract is 20 mg, 1 to 3 times a day. You can also take chaste berry as a liquid extract. Add 40 drops to a glass of water and drink it once in the morning.
- Castor Oil
Castor oil contains ricinoleic acid, which has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties that greatly help relieve from feeling sore. It also increases circulation, so that nutrients reach the cells, and waste products and inflammatory factors are removed from the body.
- Mix 1 tablespoon of castor oil with 2 tablespoons of any lighter oil, such as olive oil.
- Use it to massage all over your breasts.
- Follow this remedy daily in the week prior to your period.
- Dandelion
According to naturopathy, dandelion can help deal with tenderness and pain in breasts. It is a natural diuretic and contains lots of potassium that helps flush extra fluids out of the body and prevents water retention. This in turn reduces breast pain.
Simmer 1 teaspoon of dried dandelion root in a cup of water for 15 minutes. Strain and add a little honey. Drink up to 3 cups of this herbal tea a day.
- Fennel
It helps re-balance female hormones and prevents water retention. It also prevents the buildup of toxins in the body.
Add 1 teaspoon of fennel seeds to a cup of hot water, cover and steep for 10 minutes. Strain, and drink this tea a few times daily.
- Apple Cider Vinegar
This is helpful in dealing with breast pain. It can help remove toxins from the body, reduce water retention and regulate hormones. This in turn helps reduce breast pain and tenderness. You just need to add 1 to 2 teaspoons of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar to a glass of warm water. Add a little honey and mix well and drink this solution twice daily.
- Magnesium
It is an important daily nutrient that can help alleviate breast issues like tenderness and pain during menstruation. Magnesium helps reduce fluid retention, which reduces pain and swelling in the breasts. Eat foods rich in magnesium like dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, soybeans, avocados, bananas and dark chocolate. You can also take magnesium supplements 2 weeks before your menstrual cycle to prevent breast to feel sore as well as other premenstrual symptoms. For proper dosage, consult your doctor.
More references
- Sore breasts after periods: https://www.medhealthdaily.com/sore-breasts-after-period/