Why are breasts painful and swollen before menstruation?

Written by Jia Rui

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Updated on October 25, 2024

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Premenstrual breast pain is a common symptom among women and is considered a normal physiological response. It mainly occurs due to the increase in estrogen levels in the body seven to ten days before menstruation, leading to breast hyperplasia and enlargement, causing discomfort that makes the breasts sensitive to touch. There is no need for excessive concern as breast pain caused by hyperplasia is normal. Generally, the condition improves after menstruation and does not require special treatment. If the pain is severe, applying heat can help alleviate it.

Other Voices

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Written by Lin Yang

Breast Surgery

1min 5sec

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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.

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Written by Zhang Xiu Rong

Obstetrics and Gynecology

1min 22sec

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What to do about breast pain before menstruation?

Under normal circumstances, if there is also breast swelling and pain usually, it is essential to go to the hospital for an ultrasound to check if there is breast hyperplasia or any organic breast diseases. If organic diseases are excluded, premenstrual breast swelling and pain are generally considered clinically, and traditional Chinese medicine believes that the liver meridian accumulates in the breast. For example, patients who are prone to anger or have liver depression and qi stagnation may experience premenstrual breast swelling and pain. At this time, treatment can generally involve taking some liver-soothing and depression-relieving medicine, such as Xiao Yao Wan, Ru Ning tablets, and other medicines for symptomatic treatment. Occasional one or two instances are not a big problem, but if premenstrual breast swelling and pain occur frequently, it is definitely necessary to take medicine for symptomatic treatment, as this condition is generally related to liver meridian and liver depression qi stagnation.

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Written by Zhang Lu

Obstetrics

1min

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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.

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Written by Lin Yang

Breast Surgery

1min 9sec

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What is the cause of breast swelling and pain?

Breast pain is generally related to breast hyperplasia, and it can be diagnosed through the use of breast ultrasound or mammography. Currently, breast hyperplasia is believed to be associated with disruptions in the endocrine system leading to elevated levels of estrogen. Factors such as the external environment, work and living conditions, interpersonal relations, and various other stresses that cause neuropsychiatric impacts can alter the internal environment of the body. This, in turn, affects the function of the endocrine system, leading to abnormal secretion of one or more hormones. During the menstrual cycle, the receptors in the breast tissue undergo cyclical changes due to the fluctuation of hormone levels. An imbalance where estrogen levels are high and progesterone secretion is reduced can result in incomplete regression of breast hyperplasia after the growth phase, causing breast tissue hyperplasia. Additionally, differences in the quality and quantity of estrogen receptors in the breast tissue may contribute to uneven growth levels across different parts of the breast.

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Written by Wu Shi Ting

Breast Health Department

37sec

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What is the cause of breast pain before menstruation?

Many female friends experience breast pain during the premenstrual period, what exactly is this? Mild breast pain may be due to hormonal changes in the body, which is a normal physiological condition. Of course, it could also be caused by diseases, such as the most common fibrocystic breast changes, which cause cyclical breast pain along with the menstrual cycle. Of course, other diseases can also cause cyclical breast pain, which needs our attention. Especially severe pain, or pain upon slight touch, we recommend going to the hospital for relevant examinations as soon as possible.