Breast pain, or mastalgia, often reflects hormonal changes related to the menstrual cycle but also is typically one of the first signs of pregnancy. While many women experience cyclic mastalgia related to their menstrual cycles or breast pain due to fibrocystic changes, breast pain during pregnancy may present a different challenge due to both duration of the symptoms and limitations in available treatment. While many women worry that breast pain could signal cancer or other serious problems, mastalgia during pregnancy is often normal. Know how to reduce your symptoms and when to seek medical help.
Mastalgia
Mastalgia has many causes, ranging from hormonal changes due to puberty, pregnancy and menopause to anatomical causes, such as having large, pendulous breasts or fibrocystic changes within the breast tissue. Many women experience breast pain as dull, achy, tender or sore. Cyclic mastalgia is related to the menstrual cycle, and women typically experience breast pain during the two weeks before menses, according to MayoClinic.com. Non-cyclic mastalgia occurs independent of the menstrual cycle.
Pregnancy
Many women notice breast tenderness in the first trimester of pregnancy. Younger women are more likely to experience pregnancy-related mastalgia than older women. Women who are pregnant with twins or higher order multiples often experience more severe mastalgia than women with a single baby. Women may notice some relief of breast tenderness starting in the second trimester, although nipple sensitivity may increase.
Comfort Measures
If you are experiencing mastalgia and you are pregnant, talk to your health care provider about comfort measures, such as taking acetaminophen. Avoid ibuprofen and aspirin in the second half of your pregnancy. Get fitted for new bras, as your breasts may change in size and shape and not fit well in your prepregnancy bras. You may even wish to sleep wearing a sports bra for support. Limit caffeine and chocolate and monitor your symptoms to see if they improve.
Warnings
If you notice a breast lump, skin changes such as dimpling or if your pain persists or becomes worse, seek medical attention immediately. The hormonal changes in pregnancy may fuel the growth of certain types of breast cancer. Seek medical care if you have breast pain in one breast only, especially if you notice localized redness, tenderness, swelling or if one part of your breast feels warmer that the rest. These symptoms could indicate a breast infection.
