Breast Pain

What is Breast Pain?

Breast pain is a very common occurrence among women. Your breast pain, which may be pain in one or both breasts, may be a constant or occasional sharp burning or tight feeling.  For some women pain in the breasts may be severe for a number of days a month and continue through their menstrual cycle.

It is often difficult to identify the exact cause of breast pain, although several factors are known produce painful breasts.

Breast pain causes include:

• An imbalance of fatty acids can affect how sensitive the breast tissue is to hormones.
• Physical factors such as breast cysts or breast trauma and infection.
• Certain medications, including oral contraceptives, can cause breast pain.
• Large breasts.
• Reproductive hormones, which are linked to your menstrual cycle.

Some women have breast pain which can be more one-sided, occurring more in the left breast than the right, or visa versa.

Is Breast Pain a symptom of Breast Cancer?

Generally, breast pain is not a symptom of breast cancer, although unexplained breast pain, whether in one or both breasts, that does not disappear after your next menstrual cycle needs to be assessed by your doctor.

What should I do if I experience Breast Pain?

You should discuss any concerns you have around painful breasts with your health care professional. There are various treatments for breast pain depending on the causes of the breast pain, which you can discuss with your doctor.