The University of Virginia Health System says that mastalgia, commonly known as breast pain, is a condition that can be classified as either noncyclic or cyclic. Cyclic breast pain typically occurs with menstruation, while noncyclic pain can occur...
More than half of all women experience some symptoms or signs of fibrocystic breasts over the course of their lifetime, according to MayoClinic.com. The term describes breasts that feel lumpy or bumpy in texture as a result of nodular of glandular...
Primrose oil has long been used as food and medicine, usually for upset stomach and respiratory infections, but its effectiveness remains uncertain. In fact, prescription forms of primrose oil in the United Kingdom have recently been removed from...
Connections between caffeine intake and breast disease have been the subject of several studies. Excessive caffeine intake is defined as 800 mg of caffeine or more per day, according to MedlinePlus. One cup of regular coffee contains about 80 mg...
Fibrocystic disease, or more correctly "fibrocystic breast disease," is not really a disease but a medical condition of painful, lumpy breasts. Fibrocystic breasts are commonly swollen, feel heavy or may feel thick and lumpy. Some women feel...
At puberty, female sex hormones, particularly estrogen, promote the development of breasts in women. In men the higher lever of testosterone inhibits the development of breasts. Each breast has one nipple surrounded by colored skin called the...
Each breast contains a rich source of glandular tissue, encased in layers of fat cells, connective tissue, blood vessels, lymph nodes and nerve endings. The glandular tissue of the breasts contains bulb-like lobules, which produce breast milk, as...
The female breasts undergo cycles of hormonally-regulated growth and development at puberty and during each menstrual cycle. Gradual or sudden changes in the size, shape or consistency of the breast can lead to tenderness, soreness and general...
Fibroid cysts in the breast, called fibrocystic breast disease, are small, non-cancerous growths located in the breast tissue. The cysts are filled with fluid and may be caused by normal hormonal fluctuations, according to Women's Health, a...
The herb Vitex agnus-castus, also known as monk's pepper or Chasteberry, is the fruit of the chaste tree. According to the American Family Physician, due to the effects chasteberry has on various hormones, particularly progesterone and prolactin,...
The chaste tree is used medicinally for its berries, which contain certain properties that can affect female sex hormones. Also known as vitex, chaste berry may help in treating symptoms associated with PMS, fibrocystic breast disease, irregular...
Low testosterone is a problem that affects not only men. For women, low testosterone levels can lead to depression, low red cell blood count and a higher risk of fibrocystic breast disease. It also increases the risk of osteoporosis significantly....
Breast tenderness, also known as mastalgia, mastodynia or mammalgia, may be chronic or temporary pain that can affect women of all ages. There are many explanations for this condition, including hormones active during the menstrual cycle, certain...
Cysts in the breasts – also known as fibrocystic breasts – are a non-cancerous condition that may also be called benign breast disease. About 30 percent of all women have fibrocystic breasts, according to Dr. Susan Lark, author of...
One in eight women will be affected by breast cancer at some point in their lives, according to the National Institutes of Health, or NIH. Although cancer is clearly the most serious condition of the breast, its not the only issue of concern when...
Estrogen and progesterone are hormones that control many aspects of a woman's reproductive, mental and physical health. An imbalance of these hormones can cause a variety of health problems, some of which can be serious.
Any time a woman discovers a lump in her breast, she should always consult her doctor for a definitive diagnosis. Caffeine works as a stimulant, and while it does not necessarily cause lumps to appear, it can affect a woman's hormone levels. When...
Breast tenderness or pain, also called mastalgia, can be caused by many things. It may come and go or be chronic. It can be sharp, dull, stabbing, burning or feel like a tightness. Some conditions cause pain in just one breast, while in other...
Fibrocystic breast condition is a common and often painful condition experienced by women. Approximately 50 percent of women have the condition, while as many as 90 percent might have cellular changes associated with it. While some women find...
Vitex, or chasteberry, is a shrub native to central Asia and the region bordering the Mediterranean Sea. The plant's dark brown berries contain the medicinal compounds of vitex. The herb is primarily used to regulate hormones. In fact, monks,...
Fibrocystic breast disease caused by hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle affects as many as 60 percent of women, MedlinePlus reports. Fibrocystic breasts do not increase your risk of developing cancer later in life and generally improve...
Fibrocystic breasts are a condition defined as a painful sensation within the breasts accompanied by small lumps. The cause of fibrocystic breasts is unknown within the scientific community; however, it may be related to hormones created in the...
Several lifestyle factors are associated with increased risk of breast cancer. Women at high risk should be especially focused on reducing the chances of developing breast cancer. Contributors to that cannot be controlled include family history,...
Fibrocystic changes (FCCs) in the female breast are an extremely common occurrence. Estimates suggest that one-third of women between the ages of 20 and 45 years will develop this problem. FCCs are benign, meaning non-cancerous, and with rare...
Breast fibroids, also called fibrocystic breast disease, are benign but painful lumps in the breasts affected by hormonal changes over the menstrual cycle. Although caffeine is frequently cited as a cause of breast fibroids, as of 2011 there is no...
Many women are affected by benign, or non-cancerous, breast cysts. There are many factors that can contribute to this problem, including age, hormones and certain dietary factors, such as caffeine use. Women should be aware of the symptoms of...
Iodine is a trace mineral that's usually found in the form of iodide. It's needed for your thyroid gland to make thyroid hormones called thyroxine and triiodothyronine. Iodine is also needed for your immune system and might help treat fibrocystic...
Next time you think about grabbing a soda from the vending machine, you might want to hold off. Caffeine may contribute to breast lumps, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS) and MedlinePlus. Certain types of breast lumps may be caused or...
