Why sore breasts before menstruation

Chest pain before menstruation is often a variant of the norm, but if the chest pain much or if this phenomenon has appeared recently, you need to see a doctor and conduct the necessary examination. Only then can we be sure that the chest pain before menstruation is not dangerous.

Female hormones during the menstrual cycle and its impact on the mammary glands

Menstrual cycle consists of two phases. During the first phase, which begins on the first day of menstruation, the main hormones are follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), the pituitary gland and the female sex hormones estrogen, which under the influence of ovarian follicle matures the egg. In this period, the breast begins to gradually increase the number of breast ductal cells and glandular tissue. This process usually takes place quickly.

As soon as the egg matures, this information reaches the brain and hormonal changes. Instead of FSH the pituitary begins to secrete luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin. Under the influence of these hormones follicle bursts and the egg is released into the abdominal cavity, and then enters the fallopian tube for fertilization (ovulation). At the site of the ruptured follicle forms a temporary endocrine gland the corpus luteum, which releases progesterone Progesterone - norm and pathology . Some women on the eve of ovulation Ovulation - How to determine as accurately as possible?   feel pain in the breast - this is due to the growth of the ducts of the mammary glands and mammary tide of blood.

In the second half of the menstrual cycle, a woman's body prepares for pregnancy. Under the influence of progesterone, LH, prolactin and breast swells due to a rush of blood, swells, and the nerves are compressed, and therefore there is pain. If pregnancy does not occur, the process is reversed: the newly formed ducts and glandular tissue cells die, the swelling subsides and the pain in his chest for an offensive monthly passes.

If breast pain is not the norm?

In most cases, breast pain before menstruation are the norm, and their intensity depends on the sensitivity, that is, the individual characteristics of women. Some women do not notice it at all, for others the pain is sufficiently significant problem.

The most common cause of pain in the breasts before menstruation is diffuse mastopapiya - uniform increase in both breasts due to the proliferation of the milk ducts, and their partial blockage at the ends to form small cysts. In this case, due to hormonal failure occurs monthly reverse development (atrophy), the mammary ducts, the mammary glands therefore develop characteristic changes. Breast pain before menstruation in diffuse mastopathy can be from mild to very severe. When severe pain a woman begins to think that it is something awful and it leads to nervous stress and strengthening all forms of mastitis.

Diffuse fibrocystic breast disease Breast - the mirror Women's Health   It is often only the first stage of the disease, which eventually turns into a nodal mastopathy - formation in the breast of one or a few large dense knots often painless. Chest pain before menstruation before that diminish or completely disappear. Nodal disease of the breast is considered a precancerous condition.

What to do when severe pain in the chest before menses

Survey and as early as possible. First, it will identify and promptly treat breast disease, and secondly calm, because first and foremost a woman, as a rule, fear of cancer. But they need not be afraid, and to identify as early as possible, because today of breast cancer in the early stages are treated well.

What is the need to pass inspection

A complete survey of pain in the breast associated with menstruation, including:

• blood tests for hormones (sex hormones, pituitary hormones, thyroid hormones);
• determination of tumor markers in the blood - a special protein, the presence of which indicates a possible cancer;
• ultrasonography (US) of the breast during the second half of the menstrual cycle;
• Thyroid ultrasound The thyroid gland - is responsible for your hormones   (if there is an imbalance in the blood of its hormones) and genital (carried out a week after the beginning of menstruation);
• if during the breast examination revealed changes, carried out X-ray examination of mammary glands and taking material from them for analysis by aspiration biopsy (puncture tissue cancer).

This approach to the problem of pain in the breasts allows a woman to identify serious illness in time or, on the contrary, to calm down and not think of anything bad.

Chest pain - a common complaint among women. It is described as chronic pain, sudden, sharp burning sensation, or a feeling of pressure in the breast and surrounding tissue. The pain may be constant or appearing only occasionally.

Some women complain of severe pain in the breast, which lasts more than five days per month; sometimes it persists throughout the menstrual cycle. This problem is most common among women, and only rarely occurs after menopause.

However, if the pain does not pass within one menstrual cycle or if it occurs after menopause, you must be examined to establish the cause.

Symptoms

Pain in the mammary gland can be divided into cyclic and non-cyclic. Each type of chest pain has its own idiosyncrasies.

The characteristics of chest pain

Cyclical breast pain:

• The pain associated with the menstrual cycle;
• As a rule, such pain is described as dull and aching;
• Often accompanied by inflammation and the appearance of nodules in the chest;
• The pain usually occurs in both breasts, especially in the upper part, and is often given in the armpit;
• The pain becomes more intense for about two weeks prior to menstruation, and weakens when menstruation begins;
• The most common in women 20 to 40 years, and during perimenopause - women over 40 years.

Noncyclic breast pain:

• The pain is not related to the menstrual cycle;
• Described as burning and pressure in the chest;
• The pain usually affects one breast, is localized at a specific site, but may extend to the entire chest;
• The most common in women after menopause.

Consult your doctor if:

• Do you feel pain in the breast every day for more than two weeks.
• The pain is localized in one particular area of ​​the breast.
• Pain in the breast increases with the passage of time.
• Chest pain interferes with daily activities.

Causes

In most cases, the exact cause of chest pain is not possible. The following factors may contribute to its appearance:

• Reproductive hormones. Cyclical breast pain is obviously closely related to hormones and the menstrual cycle. They often decrease or disappear after pregnancy or menopause, so experts believe that hormones play a role in this. However, researchers have not identified particular hormonal abnormalities that contribute to the development of pain in the breast.
• Anatomical factors. The cause of chest pain acyclic apparently are anatomical, rather than hormonal factors. The trigger of the pain can be breast cyst Cyst of the breast - a sign of hormonal trouble , Chest trauma, previous surgeries on his chest. The reason for non-cyclic pain can be outside of the breast - in the chest wall, muscles, joints or heart; pain of them can be given to the mammary gland.
• Imbalance fatty acids in cells could affect the sensitivity of the breast tissue to circulating hormones. To alleviate or eliminate such pain can be recommended supplementation with the fatty acids.
• Medication. Some hormonal treatments, including medications for the treatment of infertility Infertility Treatment - What principles are priority   oral contraceptives and may be associated with the emergence of pain in the breast. Furthermore, breast tenderness is one of the possible side effects of estrogen Estrogen - the key to bone health   and progesterone used in hormonal therapy; This may explain why some women continue to experience pain in the chest Chest pain is one symptom - a lot of diseases   even after menopause. There is also information that the pain in the breast may be associated with taking prescription antidepressants antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft).
• Breast size. Women with large breasts non-cyclic breast pain may be related primarily to the size of the breast. This usually also have pains in the neck, shoulders and back. Some studies have shown that breast reduction can help to alleviate these symptoms.