Causes of Breast Pain

The most common cause of breast pain and tenderness during menopause is hormonal change. Just as with other hormonal changes during a woman's lifetime, the menopausal transition prompts changes in levels of estrogen and progesterone.

More generally speaking, the causes of breast pain depend on the type of breast pain experienced. While hormones are the most common cause of the cyclical breast pain experienced in menopause, other factors can cause or contribute to breast pain. These rarer causes range from serious health conditions to dietary issues.

Please read on to learn more about the common causes of breast pain.

Breast Pain	Hormonal Causes Hormonal change is the most common cause of cyclical breast pain and tenderness during menopause. During the menopausal transition, levels of estrogen and progesterone become irregular. Spikes and dips in these hormone levels can lead some women to experience breast pain. For some women, breast pain is caused by too little or too much estrogen, but for others it is caused by too little progesterone. No one specific hormone has been singled out as the sole contributor to breast pain. Additionally, hormone replacement therapy used during menopause can also cause breast pain and tenderness. This explains why some women on HRT continue to experience breast pain even after menopause has occurred. In addition to hormonal causes, other more rare factors can cause or contribute to breast pain in menopause. Read on to learn more.
Breast Pain Overview About Breast Pain Definition Symptoms Types of Breast Pain Breast tenderness Causes for Breast Pain Hormonal Causes Rare causes Breast Pain Diagnosis When to see the Doctor Tests and Procedures Breast Pain Treatments

Rare Causes

While hormonal causes are most common for breast pain in menopause, other factors can cause or contribute to breast pain. These are often non-cyclical causes of breast pain, which are less common in menopausal women.

Non-cyclic Causes of Breast Pain: • Anatomical Factors:   › Breast cysts   › Breast trauma   › Prior breast surgery   › Breast size • Breast Cancer:   › Rare; only 2 to 7     percent of women with     breast cancer     experience breast pain. • Medication use:   › Oral contraceptives   › Antidepressants   › Hormone Replacement   › Cholesterol and heart     drugs. • Stress • Alcoholism • Mastitis

Dietary Triggers for Breast Pain • Caffeine • High Salt intake • Fatty foods • Alcohol

Lifestyle factors, such as diet and stress, can also cause or contribute to breast tenderness and pain during menopause. Studies show that cyclical breast pain, a common symptom in menopause, can be made worse by certain food and drink choices. For example, caffeine can increase breast pain because it dilates the blood vessels, causing  microscopic  swelling in the breasts.

A high salt diet can increase breast swelling by causing fluid retention, which puts a strain on breast tissue. Moreover, animal fats and other fatty foods can increase breast pain.

Fortunately, avoiding dietary triggers is a good way to manage breast discomfort during menopause. But probably the best choice to alleviate breast pain would be by combining a lifestyle approach with natural alternatives. Click on the following link to learn more about the different treatments for breast pain.

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