What's going on with breast swelling and pain and also arm soreness?

Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
Updated on April 06, 2025
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Breast swelling and pain, as well as arm soreness, are considered to be caused by mammary gland hyperplasia and accessory breast syndrome. Mammary gland hyperplasia often manifests as cyclical swelling and pain in the breasts, commonly occurring or worsening before menstruation and alleviating or disappearing after menstruation. While mild cases might not be noticed by patients, severe cases can impact daily life and work. However, some patients do not exhibit obvious cyclical changes, and symptoms can include unilateral or bilateral breast swelling and pain, resembling needle pricks, which can extend to the shoulder, upper limbs, or chest and back areas. A few patients might experience nipple discharge, which can be yellow-green, brown, or bloody. The condition can sometimes persist for a long time, with symptoms automatically disappearing or reducing after menopause. When breast swelling and pain occur, it is necessary to regularly recheck the breast with ultrasound and mammography.

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Written by Wang Xiu Mei
Obstetrics
1min 23sec home-news-image

Is breast swelling and pain one week before menstruation a sign of pregnancy?

Breast swelling and pain a week before menstruation may be related to menstruation due to increased estrogen during the latter half of the menstrual cycle, leading to breast or nipple swelling and pain. If these symptoms occur outside of the menstrual period, it may indicate a breast condition such as fibrocystic breast disease, mastitis, or nipple infection. In such cases, it is necessary to visit a hospital for breast examinations like breast ultrasound or mammography to diagnose the condition. Generally, symptoms may relieve or disappear after menstruation, but breast pain can also be caused by local inflammation of the breast, and inflammation of the nipple can also cause swelling and discomfort. If symptoms are significant and accompanied by pain, it is advisable to seek medical attention promptly to avoid delaying the condition, and self-medicating should be avoided. On the other hand, during the early stages of pregnancy, a significant rise in hormones can also cause breast swelling and pain. Therefore, if there is a question about an impending menstrual cycle, it is advisable to undergo necessary tests to determine, and if there has been sexual intercourse for half a month, pregnancy can be confirmed through a blood test.

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Written by Zhang Chun Yun
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Is breast pain before menstruation related to breast cysts?

Women experiencing breast pain before menstruation are advised to undergo a systematic examination at a hospital. If you suspect that you have a breast cyst, it is still advisable to undergo relevant tests to eliminate the possibility of this condition. If breast cysts are ruled out, the pre-menstrual breast pain might be due to premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Premenstrual syndrome in women often manifests as headaches, breast pain, abdominal bloating, limb edema, irritability, anxiety, depression, and emotional instability, among other symptoms. If diagnosed with PMS, psychological reassurance and counseling can be provided to help the woman relax. Additionally, a suitable diet, nutrition, and appropriate physical exercise should be considered. If necessary, medication might be taken under a doctor's prescription. For further queries, please consult a doctor at a hospital.

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Written by Wu Shi Ting
Breast Health Department
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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.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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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
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What's causing breast swelling, pain, and dizziness?

Breast swelling and pain, dizziness, it may be caused by breast hyperplasia, which can be diagnosed through breast ultrasound or mammography. Breast hyperplasia is mainly related to endocrine disorders in the body, leading to increased levels of estrogen. When the hormone ratio in the body is unbalanced, estrogen levels increase and progesterone secretion decreases, it can lead to incomplete regression after breast hyperplasia, causing breast tissue proliferation. Therefore, the functional state of the ovaries and whether there is disorder play a very important role in the development of the disease. Additionally, it might be related to differences in the quantity and quality of estrogen receptors in the breast tissue, causing uneven levels of breast proliferation and leading to breast swelling.