What's going on with breast swelling, pain, nausea, and vomiting?

Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
Updated on February 10, 2025
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Generally considered related to breast hyperplasia.

We can confirm the diagnosis through breast ultrasound or mammography, paying attention to exclude the possibility of pregnancy. Breast hyperplasia is characterized by cyclic swelling and pain of the breasts, often occurring or worsening before menstruation and reducing or disappearing after menstruation. Mild cases may go unnoticed by the patient, while severe cases can affect daily life and work.

However, some patients do not show obvious cyclic changes, and symptoms might present as unilateral or bilateral breast pain or pinprick-like sensation, possibly extending to the shoulder, upper limbs, or the chest-back area. A few patients may experience nipple discharge. The condition can persist for a long time, but symptoms generally disappear or lessen after menopause. During physical examination, nodular lumps of varying sizes, firm but not hard, may be felt in one or both breasts, sometimes tender when touched.

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

Will breasts become swollen and painful ten days after conception?

Breast pain after pregnancy is caused by changes in hormone levels. Throughout the pregnancy, the development of the breasts changes along with the development of the fetus, aiming to adapt to the needs of breastfeeding after childbirth. Generally, breast pain is more severe around the 4th to 6th week of pregnancy. However, the likelihood of breast pain for a woman 10 days after conception is low, although this can vary from person to person. If concerned, it is advisable to visit a hospital for an examination by a specialist.

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Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
1min 11sec home-news-image

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.

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Written by Wu Shi Ting
Breast Health Department
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What causes postmenopausal breast pain?

Breast pain after menopause is generally temporary and a normal physiological response. It is mainly due to a decrease in the speed of endogenous estrogen secretion, and the breast tissue has not adapted to this change, resulting in localized pain. These symptoms will gradually disappear after menopause is completely stopped, so there is no need to be overly nervous, just make sure to get regular check-ups. However, if breast pain occurs years after menopause, it is necessary to be vigilant as it may indicate a disease. Since postmenopausal elderly women are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer, it is advised that patients with postmenopausal breast pain seek timely medical examinations at a hospital.

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Written by Wang Xiu Mei
Obstetrics
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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 Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
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Are nipple pain and breast tenderness the same thing?

Nipple pain and breast swelling are the same issues, both caused by mammary gland hyperplasia. Mammary gland hyperplasia mainly manifests as cyclic swelling and pain of the mammary glands, typically occurring or worsening before menstruation and diminishing or disappearing after menstruation. The mild cases get unnoticed by patients, while severe ones can impact daily life and work. However, some patients do not show obvious cyclical changes. It may present as swelling and pain in one or both breasts, similar to needle pricks, possibly extending to the shoulders, upper limbs, or thoracic-back area. A minority of patients may experience nipple discharge, and the condition can last for a long time, but symptoms usually disappear or diminish after menopause. During physical examinations, nodular lumps of varying sizes, which are tough but not hard, can sometimes be felt in one or both breasts. These lumps sometimes move when touched, and their boundaries with the surrounding breast tissue are not clear. However, they are not adherent to the skin or pectoral muscles. Sometimes it appears as a thickened area with unclear boundaries. The lumps often swell before menstruation and shrink afterward.