Can breast pain be treated with a hot compress?

Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
Updated on June 03, 2025
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Breast swelling and pain can be treated with hot compresses, but the results may not be very satisfactory. Breast pain caused by mammary gland hyperplasia is generally treated with traditional Chinese medicine, which relieves pain by soothing the liver and regulating qi, and harmonizing the Chong and Ren meridians. Endocrine treatment can also be used, preferably avoided, but can be taken before menstruation when the pain is very significant in the pre-menopausal period. When undergoing endocrine treatment, it is necessary to regularly re-examine the pelvic ultrasound, as endocrine treatment may increase the risk of endometrial cancer. Vitamin therapy can also be used; vitamins B, C, and E can improve liver function, regulate basic metabolism, and enhance autonomic nerve function, and can be used as an adjunctive treatment for this condition. Recently, vitamin E has also been considered to have pain-relieving properties, and regular ultrasound examinations of the mammary glands or mammography are necessary when breast swelling and pain occur.

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Written by Fan Hong Qiao
Breast Health Department
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How to regulate premenstrual breast swelling and pain

Before menstruation, estrogen levels rise and the breast tissue becomes congested and swollen, leading to breast pain. At this time, it is recommended for women to maintain a light diet, keep in a pleasant mood, avoid irritability, have regular routines, avoid excessive fatigue, and engage in moderate exercise, among other practices. After menstruation begins, hormone levels decrease, and this type of pain naturally eases without needing much attention. However, if the pain is severe and affects normal life, or if the pain lasts beyond the menstrual period, it is advised to visit a breast surgery specialist 3 to 5 days after the end of the period for an examination.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Does an ectopic pregnancy cause early breast tenderness?

Ectopic pregnancy is a pathological condition in the early stages of pregnancy. Although it is a pathological state, it is still considered a pregnancy, so common early pregnancy reactions still occur in patients with ectopic pregnancies, including mild breast tenderness in the early stages. The reason for this tenderness is because after pregnancy, the levels of estrogen and progesterone in a woman's body increase. These hormones stimulate the mammary glands, causing slight proliferation and manifested as breast tenderness. Even in cases of ectopic pregnancy, the levels of estrogen and progesterone in a woman's body will rise, thus causing breast tenderness. However, in ectopic pregnancies, the increase in estrogen and progesterone is not particularly high, so the stimulation to the mammary glands is not as strong as in a normal intrauterine pregnancy. Thus, there is breast tenderness in the early pregnancy, but it is lower than in normal intrauterine pregnancies.

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Written by Wu Shi Ting
Breast Health Department
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Breast swelling, pain, and lumps, what is going on?

There are several types of conditions where lumps can be found in the breast. Breast tissue itself is essentially a hard substance that can normally be grasped or pinched by hand. Therefore, sometimes the lumps you feel in the breast are just normal areas of breast tissue protrusion, which generally disappear after menstruation or after subsiding. You do not need to worry too much about breast lumps that appear during this special period. Another more common type of breast lump is fibroadenoma of the breast, which typically occurs in women of childbearing age between 20 and 39 years old. Another condition is cystic hyperplasia of the breast. This is more common in middle-aged women, often with several hard nodules of varying sizes on both breasts, with unclear borders, which can cause pain, especially more noticeable before menstruation. When it might be a breast disease, it is advisable for patients to visit a hospital and consult a doctor on how to proceed.

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Written by Sun Shan Shan
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Is breast swelling and pain before menstruation a sign of pregnancy?

Breast tenderness before menstruation is not necessarily a sign of pregnancy. Elevated levels of estrogen and progesterone before menstruation can also cause breast tenderness, as can the early stages of pregnancy. Therefore, if women of childbearing age experience a delay in menstruation and breast tenderness, they should promptly take a urine pregnancy test and, if necessary, have a blood HCG test to check for pregnancy. If pregnancy is not the case, they should wait to see if menstruation occurs. It is advisable to avoid getting cold, refrain from eating spicy and irritating foods, and maintain cleanliness of the external genitalia.

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Breast Surgery
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Can cupping therapy be used for breast distension and pain?

Breast pain can be treated with cupping, but it is ineffective because breast pain is related to fibrocystic breast changes, which are often caused by endocrine disorders leading to elevated levels of estrogen. Generally, we can treat it with traditional Chinese medicine, using methods to soothe the liver and regulate qi, and harmonize the thoroughfare and conception vessels to alleviate the pain. Endocrine treatment can also be used, though it is generally avoided if possible. However, for significant pain during the pre-menopausal period, therapy can be initiated before the menstrual period. Treatment with vitamins B, C, and E can improve liver function, regulate sex hormone metabolism, and enhance autonomic nervous system functions. These serve as supplementary medication for this condition. Vitamin E in particular also helps alleviate pain.