What's going on with breast swelling, pain, and frequent urination?

Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
Updated on January 04, 2025
00:00
00:00

Breast engorgement and frequent urination may be caused by mammary gland hyperplasia, and we can diagnose it through breast ultrasonography or mammography. Mammary gland hyperplasia is currently believed to be related to endocrine disorders causing increased levels of estrogen. It primarily manifests as cyclical breast pain, often occurring or worsening before menstruation, and diminishing or disappearing after menstruation. Mild cases may not be significant to the patient, but severe cases can affect daily life and work. However, some patients do not show obvious cyclical changes, and symptoms may include one or both sides of the breasts feeling engorged or a tingling itch, possibly extending to the shoulder, upper limbs, or thoracic and back areas. A minority of patients may experience nipple discharge, which can be yellow or brown. The condition can last for a long time, but symptoms will automatically disappear or lessen after menopause.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wu Shi Ting
Breast Health Department
42sec home-news-image

What is the cause of breast pain before menstruation?

Many women experience breast pain before each menstrual period, but what exactly is the cause? Mild breast pain may be due to changes in hormones within the body and is considered a normal physiological condition. Of course, it could also be caused by diseases, such as the commonly seen fibrocystic breast changes, which result in cyclical breast pain associated with the menstrual cycle. There are also other diseases that can cause cyclical breast pain, which should be taken seriously. Especially in cases of severe pain, where even slight touch causes significant discomfort, it is advised to seek timely medical examination at a hospital.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Feng Ying Shuai
Traditional Chinese Medicine
1min 16sec home-news-image

Can you massage if there is breast pain before menstruation?

Many women experience breast tenderness before their menstrual period, which can be attributed to various factors. This may include changes in hormonal levels and emotional impacts leading to discomfort. At this time, is it possible to perform massages? If the breast tenderness before menstruation is mild and occasional, it can be alleviated through massage by addressing some clinical symptoms. Since the liver meridian primarily passes through the ribs near the breasts, massaging certain acupoints on the liver and gallbladder meridians can help soothe the liver and relieve depression, thereby easing breast pain. For example, massaging the Qimen and Dabao acupoints, and then the Danzhong acupoint can regulate the liver, facilitate the flow of qi, and relieve pain. However, if there is frequent and stabbing pain in the breasts before menstruation, or if there are palpable lumps, it is not advisable to use massage to address this tenderness. In such cases, it is crucial to consult a doctor at a hospital to check for any other pathological changes. If there are other conditions, timely treatment is necessary.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Xiu Rong
Obstetrics and Gynecology
1min 22sec home-news-image

What to do about breast pain before menstruation?

Under normal circumstances, if there is also breast swelling and pain usually, it is essential to go to the hospital for an ultrasound to check if there is breast hyperplasia or any organic breast diseases. If organic diseases are excluded, premenstrual breast swelling and pain are generally considered clinically, and traditional Chinese medicine believes that the liver meridian accumulates in the breast. For example, patients who are prone to anger or have liver depression and qi stagnation may experience premenstrual breast swelling and pain. At this time, treatment can generally involve taking some liver-soothing and depression-relieving medicine, such as Xiao Yao Wan, Ru Ning tablets, and other medicines for symptomatic treatment. Occasional one or two instances are not a big problem, but if premenstrual breast swelling and pain occur frequently, it is definitely necessary to take medicine for symptomatic treatment, as this condition is generally related to liver meridian and liver depression qi stagnation.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Chun Yun
Obstetrics and Gynecology
1min 4sec home-news-image

Can Chinese medicine be used to treat breast pain before menstruation?

Breast pain before menstruation is an issue. It is recommended that you visit a hospital for a comprehensive examination to rule out organic changes related to female breast conditions such as mastitis, mammary ductal hyperplasia, and fibrocystic breast disease, among others. After excluding these conditions, it might be considered premenstrual syndrome. The final diagnosis and examination results from a doctor should be definitive. You could also opt for traditional Chinese medicine; take your medical results to a TCM department. Please have a Chinese medicine practitioner assess your pulse, constitution, tongue coating, medical reports, and specific symptoms, and prescribe appropriate Chinese herbal medicines for your treatment. However, be aware that dietary restrictions are necessary when taking Chinese medicine; avoid spicy food, greasy food, and alcohol. If you have further questions, please consult a doctor at the hospital.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
58sec home-news-image

Breast pain during running, what could be the reason?

Breast hyperplasia is generally considered related to endocrine disorders, which lead to increased levels of estrogen. The external environment in which one lives, including work and living conditions, interpersonal relationships, and various other stress factors, can cause changes in the body's internal environment. This, in turn, affects the function of the endocrine system, leading to abnormal secretion of one or several types of hormones. During the menstrual cycle, changes in hormone levels within the breast receptors can cause neutral changes. When the balance of hormone levels in the body is lost, and estrogen levels increase, a decrease in progesterone secretion can lead to incomplete regression of breast hyperplasia, causing an increase in breast tissue. Additionally, differences in the quality and quantity of female hormone receptors in the breast tissue may lead to uneven growth in different parts of the breast.