Breast Soreness

The degree of soreness, and where and how it is felt, differs for each woman. It might be sharp, stabbing, dull, throbbing or aching. It might be felt in all or part of the breasts, one breast or both. It can also affect the armpit area. 

For many women, the soreness is barely noticeable.  For others, the pain is so great that it affects their everyday lives. Usually the condition goes away in time.

The medical name for breast soreness is mastalgia. 

There are many reasons for breast soreness.

Hormonal breast soreness (often called cyclical mastalgia)

Women who are having periods or taking Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) often have breast soreness. This happens when the tissue in their breasts responds to hormones.

The most common hormonal breast soreness comes from an increase in the level of oestrogen before a period. This causes milk ducts and glands to swell, trapping fluid in the breasts. Many women have tenderness or pain in the lead-up to a period, and sometimes right through it.

Some women experience regular breast soreness at other stages of their menstrual cycles.

The hormones that cause breast soreness might also cause cyclical swelling or lumpiness. They can also affect the size, shape or sensitivity of cysts and fibroadenomas.

Hormonal breast soreness usually stops when a woman’s periods stop, although it might continue if she is taking HRT.

Hormonal breast soreness is normal, but it is not usually very severe. Pain that lasts more than a week around the time of a period, or pain that stops a woman from everyday activities is considered to be not normal.

Other breast soreness

Other common reasons for soreness in one or both breasts are:

• Wearing a bra that doesn’t fit or isn’t supportive enough
• Stress
• Consuming a lot of caffeine (for example, in coffee, tea, cola, chocolate and energy drinks)
• Weight gain (this can cause breasts to get heavier)
• Injury to the breast (this might include scarring from surgery)
• Taking certain medicines, especially the contraceptive pill or medicines that reduce cholesterol
• Breast cysts or fibroadenomas
• Physical activity that puts strain on the chest, shoulder or pectoral muscles (for example, heavy lifting)
• Conditions affecting the chest wall, ribs or muscles that lie underneath the breasts

Breast soreness and cancer

For many women, the biggest concern about breast soreness is that it is a sign of cancer. Breast soreness is not often associated with cancer, however do not hesitate to get your breasts checked by our breast care specialist at FV Hospital.

Diagnosing breast soreness

To try to find a cause for breast soreness, your doctor will have considered:

• Whether there is any obvious cause for the pain (for example, a scar or an injury)
• The history of the pain
• Where, when and how you feel the pain
• The results of a physical examination and any ultrasounds, mammograms or other tests that were needed
• Whether you are still having periods or taking HRT.

Sometimes, even with all this information, it will still not be possible to tell you what is causing your pain. This doesn’t mean that the pain is not real.

Managing breast soreness

Everyone manages the impact of pain differently. The list below contains tips that might help you to relieve breast soreness or discomfort. Most have not been scientifically proven, however some women find them effective.

Tips to reduce breast soreness 

• Wearing a supportive, well-fitting bra
• Cutting down on caffeine (coffee, tea, cola, chocolate and energy drinks)
• Cutting out or cutting down on smoking 
• Applying anti-inflammatory gels or creams to the sore area (ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice)
• Using a hot pack on your breasts or having a hot bath or shower
• Using an ice pack on your breasts

If you are taking prescription medicines, it is also worth discussing with your doctor whether any of these might be causing the soreness.

What happens now?

Your breast soreness does not put you at any increased risk of breast cancer. You should follow the recommendations for screening for breast cancer for women of your age and family history.

All women need to be alert to any changes in their breasts that are not normal for them. If you have any change in your breast that is different to your normal hormonal changes, you should have it checked by our Breast Care Specialist.