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Breast pain is one of the most frequent gynecologic complaints.

It occurs in over half of women so, obviously, this is COMMON. It is often harmless, benign, and rarely a sign of something more serious. It is thought to be from hormonal changes, but also can be affected by the things that play a role in hormone regulation such as nutrients, toxic exposure, hormone modulating medications, and even the foods we eat. Most of the time this occurs from fibrocystic changes in the breast tissue.

Fibrocystic changes are changes in breast tissue that can cause breasts to become swollen, lumpy, or painful. This can happen due to a buildup of scar like tissue (fibrous tissue) or the forming of fluid filled lumps (cysts) in the breast. This is a common condition and is not cancerous (i.e. it is benign). The exact cause is not known, but it seems to occur when women go through hormonal changes during their menstrual cycle. Fibrocystic changes can affect one or both breasts. It simply depends on the person.

What are the different types of breast pain?

There are many different types of breast pain. Cyclic is the most common type. This is usually in both breasts and they can feel sore, dull, achy, or heavy. The pain may radiate to the armpit or down the arm. It is caused by hormonal changes throughout the month. Imbalances of estrogen and progesterone can cause fluid increase and swelling in your breasts. Since cyclic tenderness is related to PMS, it will often go away without treatment.

Non-cyclic breast tenderness can happen any time during the month and is not related to the menstrual cycle. It can happen in one or both breasts, or you may be able to point to the exact spot. This could be pain that is sharp, burning, or tight.

There are many things that can contribute to breast pain:

Injury to the breast (poor fitting bras, you fall on your breasts, breasts move while running)
Fibrocystic breast (cysts that cause tenderness or pain, pain worse prior to menses because of a surge of hormones associated with PMS)
Fibroadenoma (noncancerous tumor found in glands; round and painless)
Perimenopause symptoms (fluctuations in hormones related to menopausal changes. This noncyclic pain is more common in women 30-50)
Stress (stress releases hormone cortisol. High levels of cortisol decreases production of progesterone, which your body needs to have a regular menstrual cycle. Low progesterone can cause sore breasts and other painful PMS symptoms)
Pregnancy (increase progesterone causes swollen, achy breasts in early pregnancy)
Infection (mastitis) in the breast often caused by clogged milk duct in lactating women but can occur in non-lactating women). Symptoms of infection are fever, aches, fatigue, warmth/tenderness of breast
Medication side effects: birth control pills, estrogen or progesterone replacement therapy, antidepressants and SSRIs, infertility treatments, some diuretics, antipsychotics (like chlorpromazine), blood pressure medications (like spironolactone and methyldopa).
Bras (poor quality bra can aggravate and damage tissue. Bras with underwire can dig into tissue of the breast and cause more pain)
Inflammation (some studies suggest that imbalance in fatty acids within cells play a role in breast pain, possible by sensitizing breast tissue to hormonal changes)
Musculoskeletal pain (conditions that affect muscles, ribs, sternum bone)
Arthritis in the neck (may affect sensory nerves exiting the upper spinal cord and cause numbness or pain in the breast)

Is breast tenderness a sign of breast cancer?

Breast tenderness is not usually a sign of breast cancer. The breast aching is usually a sign of hormonal changes or a benign, non-cancerous lump. However, approximately 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives; therefore, it is a good idea to be seen by your primary care doctor and/or OBGYN if you are experiencing any type of breast pain. You know your own body best.

It is important to be aware of changes in your breasts and evaluate your risk.

You might be wondering if you can control it. Here are some things you can do to help your breast pain:

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Studies show that a combination of Vitamin E (sweet potato, sunflower seeds, olive oil, butternut squash) and B6 (salmon, chicken breast, avocado, spinach, hazelnuts) can reduce breast pain.
Evening Primrose Oil is a supplement that has natural anti-inflammatory properties. It contains high amounts of unsaturated fatty acids, like Omega-6 fatty acids and GLA.
A hormone friendly diet. Diet affects every part of your health. If you are struggling with a hormone imbalance, a few small changes can improve symptoms easily:

Consider an anti-inflammatory diet. Inflammation is a key contributor to PMS symptoms. This means avoiding dairy, gluten, sugar, & processed foods. Some individuals have sensitivity to these foods which can cause inflammation. Try this for 4-6 weeks at a minimum. Then, you can slowly introduce the foods back into your diet and see how you feel.
Pro Tip: If you need more structured guidance when it comes to navigating and anti-inflammatory diet, consider looking into The Whole30 Program and/or AIP (Autoimmune Protocol) Diet.
Increasing fiber can be beneficial. It helps to remove excess toxins and hormones from your body.
Consider decreasing caffeine. The methylxanthines present in coffee, tea, cola, and chocolate may contribute to inflammation and pain.
Whole foods diet with a lot of vegetables! A protein heavy breakfast will help keep blood sugar stable throughout the day.

Wear a supportive bra
Relax - relaxation and movement such as yoga, also helps reduce inflammation. Try meditation, yoga, deep breathing, bubble bath, or walking.
Exercise - exercising regularly is an effective way to begin balancing estrogen. Fat cells produce estrogens and estrogens stimulate fat cells to grow. Can you see how that’s a vicious cycle?

Where does Shore Integrative Health fit in?

At the end of the day, you should have your breast pain looked at by a healthcare provider. But, if they don’t find anything significant, then you can start looking into root causes such as hormone imbalance or inflammation so you can start feeling better as quickly as possible. Through a functional medicine approach, we can address the cause at the root.