Is breast swelling and pain a sign of pregnancy?

Written by Wu Shi Ting
Breast Health Department
Updated on September 15, 2024
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After pregnancy, due to the influence of estrogen and progesterone, most women experience breast tenderness. However, not all breast tenderness is caused by pregnancy. There are many causes of breast tenderness. For example, some women experience mild cyclic breast tenderness with menstrual cycle changes, which is often physiological. There are also some diseases, such as common breast hyperplasia, that can cause breast tenderness. Of course, some benign or malignant tumors in the breast can also cause tenderness. Therefore, it is recommended that patients with breast tenderness seek timely medical examination at a hospital.

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Written by Zhang Xiu Rong
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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What is the cause of postmenopausal breast pain?

Under normal circumstances, if breast swelling and pain occur after menopause, it is necessary to visit a hospital for a breast ultrasound to check for any organic diseases in the breast. If the ultrasound reveals any abnormal masses or conditions, further examination with a mammogram is generally required. Normally, there should not be any swelling or pain in the breasts after menopause. If such symptoms occur, they should be taken seriously, and a hospital visit is necessary for relevant examinations to rule out malignant breast tumors. If there is no malignant tumor and the breast ultrasound does not show significant issues, merely presenting with breast swelling and pain, at this point, some medicinal treatment for regulation can be taken. Traditional Chinese medicine generally considers that the liver meridian passes through the breast, and patients with liver Qi stagnation may experience breast swelling and pain. In such cases, taking medicine to soothe the liver and alleviate depression can be symptomatically appropriate.

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Written by Zhao Su Min
Obstetrics
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What should I do if I have breast engorgement and lumps during postpartum confinement?

Postpartum breast engorgement and pain with lumps may indicate milk stasis within the breast. It is recommended to let the child suckle more. If the engorgement and pain persist due to a significant amount of residual milk, you can manually express the milk or use an electric breast pump to remove it to prevent the accumulation of milk, which can lead to mastitis. If the pain is severe and accompanied by fever, it is advised to stop breastfeeding from that side and seek medical attention promptly. If necessary, oral anti-inflammatory medication may be administered. During the postpartum period, care should be taken to avoid putting pressure on the breasts.

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Written by Zhang Lu
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Does an ectopic pregnancy cause early breast tenderness?

Ectopic pregnancy is a pathological condition in the early stages of pregnancy. Although it is a pathological state, it is still considered a pregnancy, so common early pregnancy reactions still occur in patients with ectopic pregnancies, including mild breast tenderness in the early stages. The reason for this tenderness is because after pregnancy, the levels of estrogen and progesterone in a woman's body increase. These hormones stimulate the mammary glands, causing slight proliferation and manifested as breast tenderness. Even in cases of ectopic pregnancy, the levels of estrogen and progesterone in a woman's body will rise, thus causing breast tenderness. However, in ectopic pregnancies, the increase in estrogen and progesterone is not particularly high, so the stimulation to the mammary glands is not as strong as in a normal intrauterine pregnancy. Thus, there is breast tenderness in the early pregnancy, but it is lower than in normal intrauterine pregnancies.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wu Shi Ting
Breast Health Department
46sec home-news-image

Is breast swelling and pain a sign of pregnancy?

After pregnancy, due to the influence of estrogen and progesterone, most women experience breast tenderness. However, not all breast tenderness is caused by pregnancy. There are many causes of breast tenderness. For example, some women experience mild cyclic breast tenderness with menstrual cycle changes, which is often physiological. There are also some diseases, such as common breast hyperplasia, that can cause breast tenderness. Of course, some benign or malignant tumors in the breast can also cause tenderness. Therefore, it is recommended that patients with breast tenderness seek timely medical examination at a hospital.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wu Shi Ting
Breast Health Department
42sec home-news-image

How long will breast tenderness during pregnancy last?

Many early-stage pregnant mothers suffer from breast tenderness, leading to frequent inquiries about how long this discomfort will last. The duration of breast tenderness varies from person to person; no two cases are exactly the same. Generally, as the pregnancy progresses and enters the mid-term, the continuously rising hormone levels will stabilize, and the breast discomfort will significantly ease. Therefore, pregnant mothers should not worry too much. Relax, pay attention to your physical condition, and if the pain becomes unbearable, consider seeking help from a doctor at the hospital.