What do pains in the breast mean

Having painful, sore or tender breasts can cause a lot of anxiety. But on its own, pain in the breasts isn't usually a sign of breast cancer. Many women experience breast pain as part of their normal menstrual cycle periods. This is called cyclical breast pain. Sometimes pain that feels as though it's in the breast is coming from somewhere else, such as a pulled muscle in the chest. This is known as chest wall pain.

Back to top. The pain can vary from mild to severe and the breasts can also be tender and sore to touch. You may experience heaviness, tenderness, a burning, prickling or stabbing pain, or a feeling of tightness.

The pain usually affects both breasts but it can affect just one breast. It can also spread to the armpit, down the arm and to the shoulder blade.

Cyclical breast pain is linked to changing hormone levels during the menstrual cycle. The pain often goes away once a period starts. In some women, this type of pain will go away by itself, but it can come back. This type of pain usually stops after the menopause, though women taking hormone replacement therapy HRT can also have breast pain.

Breast pain can also be associated with starting to take or changing contraception that contains hormones. Non-cyclical breast pain may be continuous or it may come and go. It can affect women before and after the menopause. The pain can be in one or both breasts and can affect the whole breast or a specific area.

It may be a burning, prickling or stabbing pain, or a feeling of tightness. Non-cyclical breast pain often goes away by itself over time.

This happens in about half the women who experience it. Find out more about chest wall pain. Your GP will examine your breasts and take a history of the type of pain you have and how often it occurs.

To check how long the pain lasts, how severe the pain is or if the pain is linked to your periods, your GP may ask you to fill in a simple pain chart. If your GP thinks you may have non-cyclical breast pain or chest wall pain, they may ask you to lean forward during the examination. It can also occur due to infection, noncancerous growths or blockages, and injury.

Some common causes of breast pain include:. Many people experience breast pain and tenderness that comes and goes in accordance with their menstrual cycle. In this case, changes in hormone levels are the cause of the pain.

This is known as cyclic breast pain. Typically, this type of breast pain develops around a week before a period , and resolves once the period begins. Cyclic breast pain tends to impact both breasts, and may cause:. Other things that may reduce cyclic breast pain include:. During pregnancy, certain hormones in the body rise, increasing blood flow and fluid levels in the breasts. This can cause pain, swelling, and tenderness. The breasts can also become painful during breastfeeding. This is due to milk building up in the milk ducts.

The milk ducts can also become clogged , which may result in slower milk flow. It may also cause a lump to form. Wearing a supportive bra, such as a maternity, nursing, or sports bra, may help reduce pain during pregnancy. Other strategies include:. Mastitis is a bacterial infection in the breast. Common symptoms include:.

Doctors treat breast infections using antibiotics. People can also apply a warm cloth to the breast several times per day to ease pain. If someone has an abscess, a doctor may need to drain it if it does not resolve on its own. Do not attempt to do this at home. Breast cysts are oval or round growths filled with liquid. Simple cysts are rounded in shape, and moveable under the skin.

If someone has a large, painful, or uncomfortable cyst, a doctor may be able to drain it. This is accomplished using a fine needle. If a cyst has irregular or scalloped edges, or shows signs of containing solid areas or debris, a doctor may want to test the cells or fluid inside.

This is done to rule out any other conditions, such as breast cancer. This condition occurs when the body begins to grow stiff scar tissue instead of breast tissue. It affects many females during their lifetime. The treatment options for fibrocystic breasts include over-the-counter OTC pain medications or oral contraceptives, which can reduce the symptoms. Severity can range from mild to severe and is typically described as tenderness, sharp burning, or tightening of the breast tissue. Hormonal changes due to events such as menstruation, pregnancy, lactation, and menopause can also have an effect on the type of breast pain experienced.

Some women have a higher risk of developing painful breast conditions than others. At times, milk duct or gland changes may result in the formation of breast cysts. Breast cysts can feel like a lump in the breast. They are fluid-filled sacs that can be soft or firm. They may or may not cause pain. These cysts typically enlarge during the menstrual cycle and go away once menopause is reached. Most breast cysts consist of fluid rather than cells. A cyst is different from a tumor , and it is not cancerous.

Medications that are linked to an increase in breast pain include :. Others that can have this effect include :. People with breast pain should speak to their healthcare provider to see if any of their medications are having an effect. Undergoing breast surgery and the formation of scar tissue can lead to breast pain. The severity and type of pain vary between individuals and ranges from no pain to severe pain.

It can result from nerve damage or inflammation. Pain may affect the surface of the breast, or it may be deep. One study that followed up women who had undergone breast surgery over 6 months found that overall, mild pain tends to persist over time, moderate pain may increase, and severe pain will likely decrease. Costochondritis, or costosternal syndrome, is an inflammation of the cartilage that connects the ribs and breastbone.

It can occur with arthritis. Arthritis in the neck or upper back can also lead to pain or numbness in the chest. It can also occur with an injury or physical strain. Sometimes, there may be swelling. It is not related to the breast, but it causes a burning pain that can be confused with breast pain.

Fibrocystic breast changes can cause one or both breasts to become lumpy, tender, and swollen. This is due to a buildup of fluid-filled cysts and fibrous tissue. There may also be nipple discharge. This harmless condition is not uncommon in women aged between their 20s and 50s. It is not linked to a higher risk of breast cancer.