Breast engorgement but not much milk, what's the problem?

Written by Lin Yang

Breast Surgery

Updated on March 11, 2025

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Breast pain with scanty milk supply may be due to milk stagnation in the ducts. It is recommended to visit a formal hospital's breast department for an ultrasound or routine blood test to determine if inflammation is present. If the blood count exceeds 10,000, it indicates that the milk was not fully drained during breastfeeding, causing it to accumulate in the lobules of the breast tissue, leading to bacterial mastitis. In this case, it is advised to stop breastfeeding and treat the inflammation symptomatically. Local warm moist compresses, as well as peri-inflammatory injections of isotonic saline, can be used to help reduce the inflammation. Antibiotics such as penicillin, cephalosporins or erythromycin may be chosen.

Other Voices

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Written by Zhang Hui

Obstetrics and Gynecology

40sec

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Do women experience breast pain during ovulation?

Women experience symptoms of breast swelling and pain during ovulation due to hormonal levels in the body, which is a normal physiological phenomenon and should not be overly concerning. Generally, these symptoms will disappear after ovulation. If the symptoms of breast swelling and pain are severe, it is advisable to promptly visit a reputable local hospital for relevant examinations to determine the specific cause. Under the guidance of a clinician, treatment should be given according to the symptoms. It is recommended that women should rest during ovulation, avoid strenuous exercise, maintain genital hygiene, and wear loose, breathable underwear.

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Written by Liu Hong Mei

Neurology

52sec

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What's the matter with headache, nausea, and breast pain?

Headaches, nausea, and breast pain may be related to autonomic dysfunction and cardiac neurosis. It is important to rest well, ensure sufficient sleep, and further exclude cardiovascular diseases, myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction, and insufficient cardiac blood supply, which can also cause headaches, nausea, breast pain, cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, insufficient cerebral arterial blood supply, and cerebral vascular stenosis. These conditions can also trigger migraines and ischemic hypoxic changes in cerebrovascular health, causing headaches, nausea, and breast pain. Blood pressure and blood sugar should be monitored, and blood pressure should be actively controlled to prevent hypertensive encephalopathy.

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Written by Du Rui Xia

Obstetrics

46sec

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Is breast swelling and pain after missing a period a sign of pregnancy?

The cessation of menstruation accompanied by breast pain could indicate pregnancy, but that’s not always the case. Similar symptoms to pregnancy, such as breast tenderness and delayed periods, can occur just before a woman's menstrual cycle. However, these symptoms can be influenced by factors such as fatigue, staying up late, medications, etc., leading to just a delay in menstruation. Before menstruation begins, the breasts are affected by hormones, causing ductal proliferation and edema, resulting in pain. However, this pain differs from the pain experienced during pregnancy. Pregnancy test strips can be used to check. It is generally recommended to conduct the test after a week’s delay of the menstrual period.

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Written by Lin Yang

Breast Surgery

1min 5sec

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What causes breast swelling, pain, and chills?

Generally, it is considered related to breast hyperplasia. We can diagnose it through breast ultrasound or mammography. Currently, breast hyperplasia is mainly thought to be related to an increase in estrogen levels caused by endocrine disorders. The external environment in which people live, work and living conditions, interpersonal relationships, and various other pressures causing neuro-psychological factors, can change the internal environment of the body, thereby affecting the function of the endocrine system, and then causing the secretion of one or several hormones to be abnormal. During the menstrual cycle, the receptors in the breast undergo cyclical changes due to changes in hormone levels. When the balance of hormone levels in the body is disrupted, with an increase in estrogen levels and a decrease in progesterone secretion, it may cause incomplete regression after breast hyperplasia, leading to the proliferation of breast tissue. Therefore, the functional state of the ovaries and the presence of disorders play a very important role in the development of the disease.

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Written by Lin Yang

Breast Surgery

1min 11sec

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Is it useful to apply potato slices for breast pain?

Applying potato slices to breast swelling and pain is ineffective, as such discomfort often relates to mammary gland hyperplasia, which is commonly believed to be associated with hormonal imbalances leading to increased estrogen levels. Therefore, for the swelling and pain caused by hyperplasia, we generally use traditional Chinese medicine treatments. By employing methods that soothe the liver and regulate Qi, aligning the Chong and Ren meridians, pain relief can be achieved. Endocrine treatments are also available but generally avoided unless the pain is particularly severe before menopause, in which case they can be taken before the onset of menstruation. Vitamin therapy is another option. Vitamins B, C, and E are known to improve liver function, regulate basal metabolic rate, and enhance autonomic nervous functions, serving as supplementary treatments for the condition. In recent years, vitamin E has also been recognized for its pain-relief properties. Proper diagnosis of breast swelling and pain also necessitates the use of color ultrasonography and mammography.