Why Does My Breast Hurt?

There are many reasons for women to experience breast pain, which are generally considered to be influenced by physiological and pathological factors in clinical practice. For example, some women may experience pain during menstruation or pregnancy. Besides these physiological factors, pain can also be caused by diseases. Therefore, it is important to distinguish between physical and pathological factors. What are the causes of breast pain in women? Here are some possible reasons:

Menstrual breast pain is the most common type of breast pain, accounting for approximately 65% of all breast pain cases, with an average onset age of 35 years. The pain usually occurs or intensifies around 3-7 days before menstruation and gradually disappears or alleviates after menstruation. The degree of pain varies each month, commonly presenting as a heavy, aching, dull, or occasionally brief stabbing sensation. There may also be tender breast nodules that worsen with pressure, movement, or lifting objects.

Some pregnant women may experience breast pain around 40 days after conception due to the secretion of large amounts of estrogen, progesterone, and other hormones by the placenta and villi, which cause the breasts to enlarge. This pain can persist throughout the entire pregnancy and often does not require treatment.

Timely treatment of related diseases is essential for managing pathological pain. Diseases of the chest wall, heart disease, cervical spondylosis, and oral diseases can all cause this type of pain, accounting for approximately 26% of breast pain cases. The pain associated with these conditions is often mistakenly attributed to breast pain. Prompt examination is necessary after the onset of pain, but the most common cause of breast pain is breast hyperplasia, and mastitis is also a common factor.

Some women "expect" to experience breast pain before or after menstruation, and often experience pain during those times. This has become a psychological suggestion and conditioned response. Therefore, maintaining a positive mood is the best way to reduce or eliminate mental breast pain.

Breast pain caused by hyperplasia does not fluctuate with the menstrual cycle, has no fixed timing, and tends to last longer. These women are typically in their 40s to 45s, slightly older than those with physiological pain. The pain is localized to the breasts and is relatively superficial.