What is the reason for breast pain during menstruation?

Written by Li Li Jie
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on March 25, 2025
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Menstrual breast pain is considered to be caused by two factors. First, the patient experiences breast pain during menstruation due to the stimulation of estrogen and progesterone secretion before the onset of menstruation. The pain symptoms may be more pronounced before menstruation and can be alleviated after menstruation. Second, if the patient's symptoms are severe, it is generally necessary to consider whether the pain is caused by mammary gland hyperplasia. Mammary gland hyperplasia can be caused by long-term staying up late, depression, and excessive stress. It is recommended that the patient undergoes a breast ultrasound to check for conditions like mammary ductal hyperplasia or fibroadenomas, and then receive targeted treatment.

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

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.

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Written by Wu Shi Ting
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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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The difference between breast prickling pain and swelling pain.

Breast tingling and soreness are no different; they are both manifestations of breast hyperplasia. The main symptoms of breast hyperplasia include cyclic swelling and pain in the breast, which often appear or worsen before menstruation and diminish or disappear after menstruation. Mild cases may not be noticed by the patient, while severe cases can affect daily life and work. However, some patients do not exhibit obvious cyclical changes, and some may experience soreness in one or both breasts, or needle-like pain, which can extend to the shoulders, upper limbs, or chest and back area. A few patients may have nipple discharge, with the color of the discharge ranging from yellow, brown, or bloody. The duration of the condition can sometimes be lengthy, but symptoms typically alleviate or disappear automatically after menopause.

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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.

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Breast swelling and pain occur a few days before menstruation.

Breast pain and swelling commonly occur 3 to 5 days before menstruation. As everyone's physical condition varies, the severity and duration of breast pain can differ. Clinically, most women experience this discomfort. Generally, the symptoms gradually disappear after the onset of menstruation. This is related to hormonal imbalances involving estrogen before menstruation, or due to the withdrawal of estrogen. If the symptoms are mild, treatment is usually not necessary. It's often sufficient to rest adequately, avoid excessive fatigue, and maintain a good mood and outlook.