Is it normal to have occasional breast pain

Breast pain can be treated when it's severe and debilitating or, if you're premenopausal, when it occurs more often than a few days each month. Treating conditions. For breast pain arising from pectoralis muscle strain, costochondritis, or arthritis in the spine, a short course of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs may help, along with stretching, yoga, or neck rotation exercises.

Mastitis usually requires antibiotics. An abscess will need to be drained. Draining may also relieve a painful breast cyst a benign, fluid-filled sac. Lifestyle approaches. It usually helps to wear a well-fitting, supportive bra and a sports bra for exercise and, when the pain is particularly severe, for sleep. Although there is no proof that caffeine or nicotine causes breast pain, many women report relief from avoiding both. Other treatments include ice packs, warm compresses, or massage, and occasional use of NSAIDs or acetaminophen.

Some women report symptom relief from evening primrose oil, which contains gamma-linolenic acid an essential fatty acid , or fish oil supplements, which contain other fatty acids. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content.

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Stuttering in children: How parents can help. Evoking calm: Practicing mindfulness in daily life helps. Finding balance: 3 simple exercises to steady your steps. Pain Breast pain: Not just a premenopausal complaint July 7, Breast pain after menopause can come in many forms Menopause has come and gone. Why do I still have breast pain? Breast pain after menopause and more Breast pain, sometimes referred to as mastalgia, is either cyclical the most common type or noncyclical.

Tenderness can linger for a few days up to several weeks after trauma to the breast. Without proper support, the ligaments that connect breasts to the chest wall can become overstretched and painful by the end of the day. The result is achy, sore breasts.

This may be especially noticeable during exercise. Make sure your bra is the correct size and provides good support. What feels like breast pain may actually be coming from your chest wall. This is the area of muscle, tissue and bone that surrounds and protects your heart and lungs. Common causes of chest wall pain include:.

Breastfeeding can sometimes be the source of breast pain. Some of the things you can experience while nursing include:. Breastfeeding women are most likely to get breast infections mastitis , but they occasionally occur in other women, too. If you have a breast infection, you may have a fever and symptoms in one breast, including:. Treatment typically includes antibiotics and pain relievers. Some medications may cause breast pain as a side effect.

Some drugs with this known side effect include:. If a tender lump suddenly appears in your breast, you may have a cyst, says Wright. Each type of breast pain has distinct characteristics. The term "extramammary" means "outside the breast.

Pulling a muscle in the chest, for example, can cause pain in the chest wall or rib cage that spreads radiates to the breast. Arthritis that involves the cartilage in the chest, also known as costochondritis, can also cause pain. Breast cancer risk is very low in people whose main symptom is breast pain, but if your doctor recommends an evaluation, it's important to follow through. Changing hormone levels can cause changes in the milk ducts or milk glands.

These changes in the ducts and glands can cause breast cysts, which can be painful and are a common cause of cyclic breast pain. Noncyclic breast pain may be caused by trauma, prior breast surgery or other factors.

Sometimes, it's not possible to identify the exact cause of breast pain, but some factors may increase the risk. Breast pain is more common among people who haven't completed menopause, although it may occur after menopause. Breast pain can also occur in men who have gynecomastia, and in transgender people who are undergoing gender reassignment.

The following steps may help prevent the causes of breast pain, although more research is needed to determine their effectiveness. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Breast pain mastalgia can be described as tenderness, throbbing, sharp, stabbing, burning pain or tightness in the breast tissue.

Breast pain can range from mild to severe. It may occur:. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic.