Breast Pain FAQ

When a woman has breast pain during menopause, it can be an uncomfortable and disconcerting symptom. Many women automatically fear a more serious underlying cause, such as breast cancer. However, breast cancer is a rare cause of breast pain in menopause. Much more likely, the cause of breast pain is hormonal fluctuations.

Nevertheless, many women have questions about breast pain that arises during menopause. Discovering the answers to such questions is the best place to begin when trying to manage this common menopause symptom.

Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions about breast pain in menopause.

Breast Pain	Q: What is breast pain? A: Breast pain-known medically as mastalgia, mastodynia, and mammalgia-is the general term used to mean discomfort, tenderness, and/or pain in one or both of the breasts. Breast pain can be constant or intermittent. It may generalize to the whole breast area or localize in one specific area. Q: Is breast pain normal during menopause? A: Breast pain is a common complaint among females, affecting as many as 70% of women at some point in their lives. Only a small percentage of these women-about 10 percent-will experience severe breast pain, which can have a significant impact on relationships, work, and daily life. Breast pain is normal and common in perimenopause, or the years leading up to the cessation of menstruation.
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

A: Rarely. It is important to know that breast pain is seldom a signal of breast cancer. According to medical research, only two to seven percent of women with breast cancer will experience breast pain as a symptom.

A: There are three main types of breast pain. Most cases of breast pain are classified as either cyclic or non-cyclic. However, in some cases, breast discomfort can be classified as extramammary, because the origin of the pain resides outside of the breast itself.

The most common type of breast pain in menopause is cyclic breast pain, which is hormonally related. This type often affects women in their 40s and 50s in the months or years before menopause. Non-cyclic breast pain and extra-mammary pain are unrelated to hormones. Non-cyclic breast pain is most common during post-menopause, or after the permanent cessation of menstrual periods.

A: The symptoms of breast pain depend on how the pain is classified. The following chart shows the symptom of breast pain based on type.

Symptoms of Cyclical Breast Pain • Breast dullness, heaviness, or   aching • Breast swelling or lumpiness • Sharp breast pain • Burning breast pain • Fullness, aches • Breast tenderness • Both breasts usually affected.

Symptoms of Non-Cyclical Breast Pain • Breast tightness • Breast burning • Breast soreness • Breast swelling • Sharp pains • Breast tenderness • Usually experienced in one breast or area • Can be constant or intermittent

Extramammary pain, which originates outside the breast, often accompanies more general pain or discomfort in the armpit, chest, and or neck area.

A: Hormonal change is the most likely cause of cyclical breast pain and tenderness during menopause. During the menopausal transition, normal spikes and dips in the levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones can lead some women to experience breast pain. For some women, breast pain is caused by too little or too much estrogen, while others experience breast pain because of too little progesterone.

A: While hormonal changes are the number one cause of 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:

Less Common Causes of Breast Pain: • Breast cysts • Breast trauma • Prior breast surgery • Breast size

• Stress • Alcoholism • Oral contraceptive use • Antidepressants • Hormone Replacement Therapy • Cholesterol and heart drugs • Mastitis

A: 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, not uncommon in menopause, can be made worse by certain food and drink choices. Emotional stress and prolonged inactivity can also make breast pain worse during menopause.

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

A: The cyclic breast pain that often develops in the years or months before menopause will often cease to be a problem once menopause has occurred. However, some women may experience breast pain after menopause. This type of breast pain is not usually attributed to hormonal imbalance and may have other causes. Women who experience breast pain after menopause should speak with a medical professional to rule out any rare, but serious, causes.

A: Fortunately, a number of self-care measures can help to relieve breast pain during menopause. These include:

A: In addition to self care methods, natural therapies are safe and effective methods of relieving breast pain by targeting the root cause of hormonal imbalance. Many medical experts recommend that a woman begin with the least invasive methods of hormonal balance via natural therapies, moving on to medical treatments only if necessary. A majority of women find that a combination of self-care and natural therapies are the best way to address breast pain in menopause.

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