Maybe you were putting your bra on in the morning, reaching for something in a top cabinet, or getting a hug, when you first noticed it — an annoying twinge of pain in one or both of your breasts.
While a lot of women with breast pain are rightfully very, very worried the first time they experience it, most of the time, it's nothing to worry about, says Raquel B. Dardik, MD of the NYU Langone Medical Center. It turns out that breast pain is a lot more common — and harmless — than you might think.
"You probably don't have cancer," Dr. Dardik puts it bluntly. So, you can take a deep breath and relax. We good? Good.
If you're worried about your breast pain, especially if it's sudden, severe, or seems to be related to a new lump, that should be investigated by your doctor. However, it can ease your mind to know that breast pain is more often associated with a bunch of other (sometimes surprising) things. The way you work out, the medications you take, and your period can all cause some unfortunate soreness in your breasts. Because, after all, breasts are a little more complicated than we give them credit for.
Ahead, we've collected a few of the most common causes of breast pain — and how to feel better.
Your Period
"Cyclic breast pain comes and goes with your cycle" and is caused by the monthly hormonal shifts you experience, explains Dr. Dardik. Some women are more sensitive to these changes than others (so they regularly experience this pain), while some only experience it randomly (or never).
The classic case is feeling tenderness seven to 10 days before your period, but the exact timing may vary from person to person. It may feel almost like your breasts are swollen. The key is that the pain tends to completely go away once your period arrives.
Any big hormonal shifts, including pregnancy and menopause, can also cause breast pain. Although in those cases it won't be cyclic, it may still come and go.
Photographed by Rockie Nolan.
Certain Medications
Any hormonal medication — especially birth control — can cause breast pain, because you're getting a dose of hormones different from what your body normally sees, Dr. Dardik says. Although the exact mechanism behind this isn't well understood at this point, we do know that some women definitely notice breast pain with these meds.
Other drugs that can cause similar pain include those prescribed for high blood pressure, hair loss, or acne (e.g. spironolactone). Some psychiatric medications, such as SSRIs, also may list breast pain as a potential side effect.
Photographed by Jessica Nash.
Your Bra
"An ill-fitting bra will definitely cause breast pain," Dr. Dardik says. Often, that's due to underwire pushing into the tissue of your breast in a really uncomfortable way.
Jostling your breasts around can aggravate the tissue and cause pain no matter the size of your bust. But bra-related breast pain is "more common with women who are larger-breasted or do vigorous types activity, like running," Dr. Dardik says. That's why it's always important to make sure you have the support you need for whatever activity you're doing — especially if your breasts are larger.
Photographed by Lauren Perlstein.
An Infection
Breast infections are most common among women who are breast-feeding. These can form within the tissue of the breast (in a condition called mastitis). But they also happen if milk gets backed up in the milk duct, causing a buildup of bacteria.
Women who aren't breast-feeding can still get breast infections, though they are much less common. In these cases, the infection is often traced back to some sort of damage to the nipple, including piercings.
The key difference here is that the pain will be localised to the area of the infection, Dr. Dardik says. You might also have some redness and hardness in that particular area. And you may have flu-like symptoms, such as a fever and nausea.
If you think you may have a breast infection, it's important to get checked out by your doctor. An untreated infection can turn into an abscess that will need to be drained (possibly with an in-office procedure). But usually, treatment with antibiotics and home care (such as hot compresses to ease pain) can take care of it.
Photographed by Alexandra Gavillet.
Your Workout
Yep, in addition to your sports bra making your breasts hurt, your exercise routine itself could be the source of pain. There are two kinds of muscles that might give you soreness in your breasts, Dr. Dardik says. The first is the pectoralis muscles, which sit below your breasts. These are the ones getting a workout when you do, say, bench presses. If these are sore, give 'em the usual treatment: rest, ice, and your OTC pain med of choice.
The other option is the small muscles in between your ribs. If these become irritated and inflamed (the condition is called costochondritis), you'll have very localised pain underneath your breast. The pain usually goes away on its own with some stretching and OTC pain relievers, but your doctor may be able to prescribe medications to help if it's really bothering you.
Read more:
25 Real Photos Of Women's Breasts (NSFW)
The Breast Cancer Sign You Probably Don't Know
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