Let’s explain this very common phenomenon – breast pain – from a medical professional’s perspective.
I. Physiological breast swelling and pain
The female breast is affected by the interaction of estrogen and progesterone from puberty, and the mammary germ starts to germinate. Often, young girls around 10 years old are accompanied by their parents to the hospital for registration because the child has recently been feeling pain in the breast, accompanied by button-like nodules in the chest. This is normal physiological development. As women of childbearing age, their breasts increase in size. The ovarian function of women of childbearing age further matures, and under the stimulation of female hormones secreted by the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian gonadal axis, the breasts, like the endometrium, undergo cyclical changes. About 10 days before menstruation, the level of sex hormones increases, the lobular follicles of the breast increase, the ducts of the breast dilate and proliferate, while the endometrium grows to a thickness that allows conception. Since no conception has occurred, the estrogen and progesterone in the sex hormones drop dramatically, at which point the endometrium peels off in large swaths and menstruation is formed. The glandular follicles and ducts in the lobules of the breast are also changing accordingly. During this cyclical change, we can explain two phenomena.
One is why breast pain and menstruation are closely related. The pain is usually swollen before menstruation and relieved afterwards. This is all because both the breast and the uterus are target organs of sex hormones and receive the synergistic effect of female estrogen and progesterone together, rather than the mutual action between the breast and the uterus.
The second is the cyclical swelling and pain in the breast. Swelling and discomfort caused by hormonal stimulation of glandular follicles and milk ducts to proliferate.
Therefore, pubertal breast development, premenstrual swelling and pain, pregnancy swelling and pain, and post-abortion swelling and pain are all physiological swelling and pain, caused by hormonal stimulation of the breast, and do not need to be dealt with.
Second, the disease that causes breast pain
There are many reasons for breast pain, but physiological breast pain does not need to be dealt with and should not be worried. However, you should not think that all breast pain is not important. The following are the common pathological conditions that cause breast pain.
1, mastitis during lactation
The age of onset is mostly postpartum women of childbearing age, in the breastfeeding period, the characteristics of pain: severe pain, persistent aggravation, refusal to press, touch the breast. The four major symptoms of acute inflammation of the breast: redness, heat, swelling, and painful inflammation become increasingly apparent, followed by systemic symptoms of chills and high fever. The disease is caused by both milk stagnation and bacterial invasion and can be prevented and treated. It can be prevented and treated by giving lactation and anti-inflammatory treatment. If you do not actively treat septic mastitis that does not heal, the only way is to cut and drain it, and the pain is not trivial.
2, mastoproliferative disease
The onset of the disease is from 20 to 50 years old, most women will have periodic swelling and pain, premenstrual pain aggravated, postmenstrual pain reduced, some patients with serious imbalance of hormone levels will appear persistent pain, all tests show normal, we clinically called it: breast pain, hormonal stimulation of duct expansion, tissue hyperplasia repair incomplete, local edema caused. Mild, moderate, symptoms will disappear on their own by regulating mood and diet and regular living habits. Severe breast pain affects daily life and work and can be alleviated by medication, while the so-called “oil massage” in beauty salons not only fails to provide good relief, but also causes edema to worsen, which is counterproductive.
3.Breast cancer pain
In the early stage of breast cancer, there is almost no symptom and most women do not notice any change in their breasts. As breast lumps grow bigger and bigger, they gradually protrude from the surface of the body and can be seen as purple or red, swollen or close to the skin. The devil in the breast, breast cancer, continues to grow, and when the body’s nutrition cannot supply the nutrients needed for the growth of the tumor, it breaks down and ulcerates, and at this time, we see the patient in pain, fear, and helplessness. What we can help her is the courage and confidence to face the disease, the support and help from her family, as well as the effective surgical measures and medication to control the further development of the disease.
Third, the treatment of breast pain
In the face of breast pain, we need to put our mindset right and use medical knowledge to solve the problem.
The treatment of breast pain: often some of us over-treat, over-medicate, and seek hospital care all year round, but in fact it is just a simple physiological hyperplasia, which can be completely relieved or self-healed by changing living habits and eating habits. Another group of people, painful and happy, fearless, ignore the annual checkups for women of childbearing age and, in the end, cause irreparable pain.
Management of painful mastitis during lactation: Mastitis during lactation usually starts acutely, develops rapidly, with severe pain, high fever and chills, and breast lumps. On the one hand, we start with the cause of the disease and drain the stagnant milk in time. On the other hand, we start with bacterial infection and give anti-inflammatory treatment. Apply local ice packs, or seek help from a doctor.
Fourth, understand the breast to reduce the panic of breast pain
Only when you really know your breasts can you face the discomfort and pain in your life honestly, then breast examination is especially important. Here we introduce when women’s breasts should be examined.
Every month, on the 7th to 11th day of menstruation when the breasts are in a resting state, self-examination can be performed. Menopausal women can perform self-examinations on the same day of the month.
Women under 40 years old can have an annual ultrasound examination; women over 40 years old can have an annual ultrasound examination or a mammogram every one or two years; women with benign lesions should have an ultrasound examination every six months; those with a family history of genetic disease and benign breast lesions should be examined more closely and actively.