What should I do if my breasts are swollen and painful and I can't pump milk out?

Written by Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
Updated on January 10, 2025
00:00
00:00

If breast pain has already occurred, it is still necessary to actively treat the symptoms. Normally, if the milk cannot be completely extracted after stimulation, it is possible that a blockage in the milk ducts may be occurring. It is generally recommended to apply local heat and massage to the breasts before pumping. These treatments can effectively promote local blood circulation and help the milk ducts to clear, facilitating the complete extraction of milk. If there is continuous non-discharge of milk causing local breast swelling, it's necessary to consider the possibility of mastitis and seek medical advice promptly to receive appropriate treatment.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Fan Hong Qiao
Breast Health Department
30sec home-news-image

Will ovulation cause breast pain?

Generally speaking, breast pain may occur during the ovulation period, but this varies from person to person. However, having breast pain does not necessarily mean ovulation is occurring. If breast pain occurs during ovulation, it could be due to ovulation, but other conditions such as hormonal influences, breast hyperplasia, or mastitis cannot be ruled out. It is recommended that patients visit a hospital for examinations such as breast ultrasound or mammography to rule out any medical conditions.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wu Shi Ting
Breast Health Department
47sec home-news-image

What causes breast pain before menstruation?

In clinical practice, I often hear complaints from female friends that they experience breast tenderness before menstruation. What exactly is the cause of this? Mild breast tenderness may be due to hormonal changes in the body, which is a normal physiological condition. Of course, it could also be caused by diseases, such as the most common fibrocystic breast change, which is associated with cyclical breast pain during the menstrual cycle. There are also other diseases that can cause cyclical breast pain, and it is important to pay attention to them. Especially in cases of severe pain, or when even light touch causes significant discomfort, we recommend visiting a hospital for relevant examinations as soon as possible.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
45sec home-news-image

Will having sex with breast pain lead to pregnancy?

Women may experience breast tenderness before and after menstruation, or during ovulation. However, merely relying on breast tenderness to determine the likelihood of pregnancy during intercourse has no scientific basis. One should consider their menstrual cycle to see if it coincides with the ovulation period, which is typically about 14 days before the onset of the next menstrual cycle. The ovulation date, the five days before it, the four days after it, plus the day of ovulation itself, make up a total of ten days known as the ovulation period. Intercourse during this time is more likely to lead to pregnancy.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wu Shi Ting
Breast Health Department
50sec home-news-image

What should I do if my period is 10 days late and my breasts are sore?

What should I do if my menstrual period is delayed by 10 days and I have breast pain? For many women, besides dysmenorrhea, there are many discomforts during menstruation. Many young and middle-aged women experience breast swelling and pain before and after menstruation. Is this normal? Many women worry that this is a sign of a pathological change in their breasts. Generally speaking, this kind of cyclical swelling or stabbing pain that appears as the menstrual cycle approaches, and then eases or disappears after the onset of menstruation, is mostly due to changes in hormones in the body and is a normal physiological condition that does not require treatment. Of course, if the pain is severe, it is necessary to visit a hospital promptly.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Jing Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
1min 2sec home-news-image

What causes breast pain after menopause?

When experiencing delayed menstruation and symptoms of breast tenderness, the first consideration should be related to pregnancy. As long as there has been sexual activity, whether contraception was used or not, a pregnancy test should be conducted. However, not all cases of ceased menstruation and breast tenderness are related to pregnancy; some people may experience these symptoms before their period, which can only be differentiated by medical examination. If menstruation has stopped for two weeks and pregnancy is still ruled out upon re-examination, then intervention should be considered. An ultrasound should be performed. For some, symptoms of breast tenderness may be related to staying up late, excessive stress, the tightness of bras, or breast hyperplasia, among other factors.