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Breast Pain and Tenderness

Do you experience pain and tenderness in your breasts? Sore breasts are a common problem for young women. Although post-menopausal women can experience breast pain, women who are still menstruating feel breast tenderness most often. Teenage boys may also experience breast pain or tenderness, or enlargement of the breasts. This condition is called gynecomastia, and it can be a normal part of adolescent development.

With all of the awareness campaigns about breast cancer and breast exams, experiencing breast pain may be a scary ordeal. It's important to note that breast pain is not a common symptom of breast cancer.

Causes of Sore Breasts

Why do you have breast pain? Sore breasts can be caused by many different factors. Here are some causes of breast tenderness:

premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
hormone changes approaching menopause
hormone changes during pregnancy
water retention, which may occur during your period
breast injury
estrogen therapy
chest wall tenderness
onset of puberty (in boys and girls)
breastfeeding
breast infections including breast abscess and mastitis
fibrocystic breast changes
alcoholism with liver damage
shingles.

Use of some medications can also cause breast pain. Medications that may cause sore breasts include:

digoxin (Lanoxin®, a heart disease drug)
methyldopa (Aldomet®, a hypertension drug)
spironolactone (Aldactone®, a potassium-sparing diruetic)
oxymetholone (Anadrol®, a steroid)
chlorpromazine (Thorazine®, an anti-psychotic).

Sore breasts can come and go each month, or they can last for several weeks or months. If you have recurrent breast pain or breast tenderness that persists, talk with your doctor so the cause can be determined.

When to Call the Doctor for Breast Pain

It's important to talk with your doctor about any concerns you have about breast pain or breast tenderness. Your doctor can help relieve your worries about sore breasts if you are simply going through hormonal changes, and may have some suggestions for alleviating your breast pain. Suggestions might include proper support, over the counter pain medication, and dietary changes.

If you feel any suspicious lumps or any significant changes in your breasts during self exams, be sure to consult your doctor immediately. If you are breastfeeding and notice any signs of infection, such as localized redness and fever, call your doctor right away.

Also call your doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms:

nipple discharge, particularly blood or pus
swollen or hard breasts a week after giving birth
localized redness
swelling
breast skin changes
painful breast lump that does not go away after your period.

Resources

American Academy of Family Physicians. (updated 2004). Breast pain in women. AAFP Handout.

eMedicine.com. (2004). Breast lumps and pain.

National Library of Medicine. (2004). Breast pain.MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.