Mastalgia


What causes breast pain after an abortion?
After an abortion, if there is breast pain, you can first have an X-ray or an ultrasound to see if it is related to a breast disease. If there is inflammation, oral anti-inflammatory medication should be taken. If it is mastitis, a warm wet towel can be applied appropriately. If it is breast hyperplasia, you can check the size of the lump, and surgery might be needed if it is severe. If the hormonal levels have changed due to the abortion, treatment might not be necessary. After an abortion, it is crucial to rest more and avoid staying up late. Maintain a regular lifestyle, avoid spicy and stimulating foods, pay attention to a mild diet, and keep good hygiene habits.


Frequent urination and breast pain, is this pregnancy?
Frequent urination and breast pain are not necessarily symptoms of pregnancy. During pregnancy, the forward tilting of the uterus presses on the bladder, which can cause frequent urination. Breast pain generally occurs around the eighth week of pregnancy due to an increase in estrogen and progesterone, promoting the growth of mammary ducts and tissue. However, these are not exclusive symptoms of pregnancy. To confirm pregnancy, detection through blood and urine HCG tests, as well as ultrasound scans can be used. For blood HCG levels, they can be detected as elevated about ten days after intercourse, and urine HCG can be detected about 14 days after intercourse using a pregnancy test. Around six weeks after missing a period, an ultrasound can determine if there is any pregnancy tissue in the uterus.


What is the cause of breast pain before menstruation?
If breast pain occurs before menstruation, it is likely due to stagnation of liver qi, caused by discomfort of liver qi. Initially, one can use some traditional Chinese medicines that soothe the liver and regulate qi for treatment, which are very helpful in alleviating these symptoms. It is also important to avoid frequent anger, anxiety, and excessive heat, as these can affect menstruation and lead to breast pain during this period. If symptoms of premenstrual breast pain recur, it is also necessary to visit a hospital for a detailed examination, and an ultrasound of the breast can be performed to check for any breast lumps or related symptoms.


What's the matter with delayed menstruation and breast pain?
Delayed menstruation and breast pain, if it occurs in women of childbearing age who are sexually active, this condition needs to be checked to see if there is a possibility of pregnancy. Menstruation is related to mood, diet, environmental stress, and psychological tension. If there is a problem in any of these areas, it can cause menstrual disorders. Of course, a delay in menstruation of about a week is within the normal range. If menstruation is delayed for more than a week and there has been sexual activity, a pregnancy test should be used to see if there is a possibility of pregnancy. If not pregnant and menstruation is delayed for more than a week, it is necessary to promptly go to the hospital for a gynecological ultrasound to check the condition of the endometrium, and if necessary, medication can be used to induce menstruation. If a pregnancy test is positive, then it is timely to go to the hospital for a pregnancy checkup.


Is breast pain 8 days before menstruation an early sign of pregnancy?
Breast pain and swelling eight days before menstruation is mostly not a sign of early pregnancy, but a normal physiological phenomenon. The period before menstruation is the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. After ovulation, the ovary forms the corpus luteum, which secretes estrogen and progesterone to maintain the uterine lining. Estrogen stimulates the growth of ductal cells and alveolar cells in the mammary glands, and increases the permeability of local blood vessels, leading to breast enlargement and sometimes pain. This is generally a normal physiological phenomenon and usually returns to normal after menstruation. However, it is also necessary to rule out the possibility of mammary hyperplasia, breast nodules, or even breast tumors.


What should you not eat if you have breast pain?
Breast swelling and pain are mostly considered to be related to breast hyperplasia, and can be diagnosed through breast ultrasound or mammography. Therefore, patients with breast hyperplasia need to eat less food containing estrogen, as supplementing exogenous estrogen has been confirmed to increase the incidence of breast cancer, and it is also advised to reduce the intake of fatty and high-calorie diets. Most epidemiological studies confirm that weight gain is associated with breast cancer, especially weight gain after menopause should be paired with reduced alcohol consumption. Reports indicate that drinking may increase hormone levels in the body, leading to an increased risk of breast cancer in women. It is suggested to consume more foods rich in fiber and vitamins. Although the mechanism is not yet clear, fiber has been confirmed to have an inhibitory effect on both breast cancer and colorectal cancer, and research suggests that vitamin A also has a protective role in breast cells.


How many days before menstruation does breast pain occur?
The duration of breast pain before menstruation varies depending on an individual's constitution. Typically, breast pain is a sign that menstruation is approaching, and the symptoms will gradually disappear after the onset of menstruation. If the symptoms are mild, there is no need for treatment. It is important to rest adequately and avoid overexertion. Applying a warm towel to the breasts can help alleviate the pain. Additionally, it is important to maintain a good mood and attitude during menstruation and when experiencing breast pain, and avoid becoming angry or anxious.


Is it normal to have breast pain in the late stages of pregnancy?
In the later stages of pregnancy, it is normal for pregnant women to experience breast pain. This occurs because, in the late stages of pregnancy, levels of estrogen and progesterone increase. Under the combined influence of these hormones, the mammary glands become congested and swollen, further proliferate, and the mammary ducts expand, leading to breast pain. This condition prepares the body for breastfeeding after childbirth. When breast pain occurs, one can use a hot towel to apply heat to the breasts to alleviate the pain. Additionally, it is important to choose comfortable bras daily, avoiding those that are too tight or small, as they can cause compression on the breasts.


Breast engorgement but not much milk, what's the problem?
Breast pain with scanty milk supply may be due to milk stagnation in the ducts. It is recommended to visit a formal hospital's breast department for an ultrasound or routine blood test to determine if inflammation is present. If the blood count exceeds 10,000, it indicates that the milk was not fully drained during breastfeeding, causing it to accumulate in the lobules of the breast tissue, leading to bacterial mastitis. In this case, it is advised to stop breastfeeding and treat the inflammation symptomatically. Local warm moist compresses, as well as peri-inflammatory injections of isotonic saline, can be used to help reduce the inflammation. Antibiotics such as penicillin, cephalosporins or erythromycin may be chosen.


Why do breasts swell and hurt after soaking feet in mugwort?
When experiencing breast pain and swelling while using mugwort for foot soaks, it is primarily considered that mugwort promotes overall blood circulation, which may lead to painful hardness upon touching, mainly suspected to be caused by mastitis or a tumor. It is advised to promptly visit a reputable hospital to investigate the specific cause and rule out inflammation or tumors in the breast. This can effectively prevent worsening of the symptoms. Additionally, rest is important as mugwort foot soaks can be beneficial for bodily health, but if symptoms occur, it is essential to immediately stop the treatment.