Treatment for benign breast pain---pain that is not caused by cancer--varies according to the reason for the pain, according to Family Doctor, a service of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Breast pain and tenderness due to hormonal changes in puberty, pregnancy and menstruation are normal and do not require medical treatment, according to the National Institutes of Health. Other pain may require prescription medication or a change in treatment for an underlying condition, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Fibrocystic disease does not require medical treatment, but cysts and benign growths may require surgical removal.
Prescription Medication
Several conditions of the breast may require prescription medications. Doctors treat mastitis, an infection of the breast, with antibiotics as well as with home remedies such as compresses and supportive bras, according to the Cleveland Clinic. For breast pain that persists after treatment with over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, doctors may sometimes prescribe two medications---danazol and tamoxifen---that treat breast pain and tenderness by affecting the hormones in the body. The unpleasant side effects of these drugs limit their usefulness for breast pain treatment, however. Some women benefit from taking oral contraceptives or birth control pills if they are not already taking them, according to the Mayo Clinic. In some cases, including breast pain due to liver disease, kidney disease or other medical conditions, treating the underlying cause also addresses the pain.
Surgical Intervention
In some cases, surgery can help relieve breast pain or tenderness. Treatment for simple cysts---fluid-filled sacs that often occur in both breasts and change with a patient's menstrual cycle---involves withdrawing the fluid through a needle, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Surgical removal of benign lumps, including fibroadenomas---painless lumps that move freely when palpated---and intraductal papillomas---small, wart-like growths in the lining of the mammary duct near the nipple----may be appropriate. If a patient's pain is related to having large breasts, which can occur in both men and women, breast reduction surgery may be helpful, although the operation itself may cause pain, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Drug Therapy Modifications
Breast pain or tenderness is a side effect of a number of medications. Many women with benign breast disease benefit from a change in hormone therapy or oral contraceptive regimen, according to the Mayo Clinic. In some cases, stopping hormone replacement therapy or changing birth control methods is helpful. Changing a patient's antidepressant regimen may also be appropriate, as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as fluoxetine and sertraline have been linked to breast pain or tenderness, according to the Mayo Clinic.
