Breast Pain in Menopause: A Comprehensive Overview
Menopause is a natural phenomenon that occurs in every woman’s life and that is considered to be a turning point of their life where their menstrual cycle takes a pause forever and marks the end for their reproductive years. This hormonal change is an invite to many emotional and physical symptoms, breast pain being one of them. During the reproductive years women do feel this discomfort on many occasions, but experiencing breast pain during menopause is surprising to many women.
What is Menopause and Why Does it Cause Breast Pain?
When a woman reaches her menopause stage ideally during 45-55 years of age, is when her menstrual cycle comes to an end. It often comes with a certain set of symptoms mostly because of the hormonal imbalance. Breast pain during menopause, or ‘mastalgia’ is one of the symptoms out of the lot, but you might think why is menopause and breast pain inter-related?
Well, the most common answer being here is hormonal changes specifically estrogen and progestogen. These two hormones are responsible for regulating your menstrual cycle and directly influencing the breast tissues. When a woman approaches her menopause stage, the level of estrogen hormone starts dropping, initiating changes in the breast tissues which then results in discomfort, tenderness or even sharp pain.
Causes of Breast Pain during Menopause
The unfathomable fluctuations in the estrogen levels are the primary origin of breast pain during menopause, this is because estrogen directly impacts the glandular tissues in the breasts, and when its level decreases during menopause the tissues tends to become less dense, resulting in soreness.
Though, there are other origins of breast pain during menopause, which have been listed below:
1. Hormonal Imbalances
Progesterone and estrogen are two very vital hormones for breast health, as the levels drop unpredictably during perimenopause, leading to soreness, sharp pain or even swelling in the breast tissue. These changes are not very familiar for many women especially if breast pain was not a notable symptom during their reproductive years.
2. Water Retention
Hormonal disbalance also leads to water retention, which also results in breast swelling, the swollen tissues tend to push against the surrounding areas, which leads to discomfort and pain especially when the breasts are pressed.
3. Breast Cysts
Menopause also leads to benign cysts in the breast area which also causes localized pain, while the cysts are non-cancerous, they do bring prominent pain when pressed.
4. Fatty Tissue Degeneration
When the estrogen level starts decreasing the fatty tissues of the breast tend to break down or degenerate. This process brings a sharp pain especially whether fatty tissues are being exchanged by fibrous tissues, which are extremely dense and less flexible.
5. Other Health Conditions
While being less common, menopause and breast pain can also be caused because of many underlying health issues like fibrocystic breasts, infections or even trauma to the breast. If the pain tends to be persistent or intense, it is crucial to consult with a healthcare professional to omit all serious health issues such as breast cancer.
How to Identify Breast Pain during Menopause: Its Signs and Symptoms
Breast pain menopause symptoms can vary from woman to woman, reliant on the severity of the hormonal fluctuations and various other factors. The pain ranges from mild tenderness to a more severe and sharp pain.
Listed below are some signs of breast pain during menopause:
1. Dull, Aching Pain
Many women have explained that they experience consistent pain in their both breasts, which is very uncomfortable, but typically not that stabbing or sharp.
2. Soreness
This being one of the most common symptoms, breasts might feel sensitive to the touch, and even hurt while wearing tight clothes or a bra.
3. Swelling
The breasts tend to feel heavy or swollen specially when the hormonal changes cause the tissues to retain water.
4. Localized Discomfort
Some women have also reported that they feel a sharp pain in a specific area of their breasts, often close to their underarm.
5. Intermittent Pain
Breast pain during menopause might come and go often related to hormonal fluctuations or in certain time of the month, even when their menstruation has come to an end.
Comprehending these symptoms will help women in differentiating between the distinctive discomfort of menopause and breast pain that requires medical attention.
Breast Pain After Menopause: What You Need To Know
Many women think that once they have gone through menopause, the risk of breast pain can disappear. On the contrary, there are women who experience breast pain after menopause, even after their hormonal changes have stabilized. This makes it more alarming, but it is also often related to the persistent effects of hormonal fluctuations, lifestyle aspects or having any medical conditions.
Causes of Breast Pain after Menopause
1. Hormonal Therapy
Women who are undergoing hormonal therapy post their menopause might experience pain in their breast. The reason behind is that the therapy brings regeneration of estrogen and progesterone hormones in the body to eliminate symptoms of menopause. These hormones also cause the breast tissues to swell resulting in soreness and discomfort.
2. Infection or Injury
Women in their postmenopausal phase are susceptible to infections, or any trauma that can impact on their breast tissue directly. There is also an infection called mastitis which causes severe breast pain, its even commonly associated with breastfeeding.
3. Side Effects of Medication
There are certain medicines that are consumed for controlling other postmenopausal symptoms that might bring breast pain as its side effect. If the pain seems to coincide with the intake with any new medication, it is suggested that you consult your healthcare professional for an alternative.
4. Breast Cancer
Though this is very rare, it is important to be attentive that severe or persistent breast pain after menopause can be a sign of breast cancer. Though pain is not the initial symptom, if there are any other symptoms associated with it, that is when you need to seek medical advice.
Hence, it is important for women to understand that neglecting any kind of sign or symptoms that arises post menopause needs to be attended by a healthcare professional.
Natural Remedies that Help you Manage your Breast Pain during Menopause
Dealing with breast pain menopause symptoms can be very frustrating, but there are certain natural remedies that might help you eliminate your discomfort.
Before, taking any medicines or other interventions many women have found relief to their breast pain through these holistic and simple practices:
1. Proper Bra Support
It is always suggested to wear a well-fitted and supportive bra, which will help in minimized movement and lessen the strain on the tissues of the breast.
2. Stress Management and Exercise
Keep yourself engaged in physical activities like yoga or meditation regularly as that will help you reduce your stress as well as balance your hormones.
3. Hot or Cold Compress
Applying warm or cold compress to the painful areas can help you in reducing soreness and pain.
4. Dietary and Lifestyle Changes
It is highly crucial for you to reduce your caffeine, salt and fat intake in your diet as that lessens water retention and eventually reduces your breast pain. Also avoid smoking and drinking alcohol as well.
Medical Treatments for Breast Pain during Menopause
For many women natural remedies don’t help in diminishing the breast pain during menopause, that is when you turn to medical treatments.
Some of the medical treatments has been listed below:
- Hormonal Replacement Therapy (HRT)
- Mammography and Ultrasound
- Prescribed Medicines
- Over-the-counter Pain Relief
Key Takeaways
Breast pain during menopause can be managed effectively with the help of lifestyle changes, natural remedies as well as medical treatments. Before, it is important for women to understand the link between menopause and breast pain so that the treatment can be taken according to the severity of the pain. This article has explained all the minute details that you need to know, about breast pain after menopause.
Citations
Prativa Chatterjee
