Who Do I Go See About Pain in My Breast?

Breast pain affects 70% of women in the U.S.

Aches and pains occur in a person's life. There are certain types of pain that make a person seek assistance. For a female, a pain in her breast is something that needs to be addressed.

Definition

Breast pain is the common term of a condition called mastalgia. According to the Mayo Clinic, breast pain affects seven out of 10 women at some point in time and is more commonly experienced by younger, pre-menopausal females.

Causes

Medline Plus advises that hormonal changes such as menopause, menstruation, premenstrual syndrome, puberty, and pregnancy can cause breast pain.

Evaluation

According to Imaginis, women are advised to inform their doctor if their breast pain is persistent. Doctors will perform a breast exam and if needed schedule a mammogram or ultrasound to diagnose the root cause of your breast pain.

Treatments

Medication or surgery is typically not needed for moderate breast pain. The Mayo Clinic suggests changes such as wearing a supportive bra, adjusting birth control dosage, using a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication or taking a prescription medication such as tamoxifen, danazol, or bromocriptine for pain relief.

Considerations

Some women fear that breast pain is a warning sign of breast cancer; however, Medline Plus advises that breast pain is not a symptom of breast cancer.

References

• Mayo Clinic
• Imaginis
• MedLine Plus

Resources

• Mayo Clinic