Possible Reasons for Breast Pain

When a woman's breasts are painful, sore or just tender she quickly wants to know the reasons why this could be happening. At least 70% percent of women, will experience breast pain. This may not be an ongoing thing. It may just come for a short time and then go away as quickly. Yet, if this pain continues for a long period of time or is extremely painful, a woman is more apt to wonder what if something is wrong and what is happening.

The main and most popular reason why a woman's breast becomes irritated and sore is because of hormonal changes. The three major reasons why a woman's hormones can change are: the time of the month (premenstrual symptoms), pregnancy (especially early in the pregnancy before the body has time to become use to the hormonal changes) and during menopause.

Of course, all women know that the body goes through a lot of changes during these three times of their lives. Most women also realize just how much havoc their hormones can play on their bodies and even on the temperament.

Doctors will sometimes categorized breast pain in two category: cyclical and non-cyclical.

Cyclical pain can be caused by the monthly chances in a woman's estrogen and progesterone hormone levels each month. If this pain is accompanied by lumpiness, cysts or thickness or swelling of the breasts or breast tissues it is sometimes referred to as fibrocystic change. This type of pain usually will stop when the menstruation period is over for that month. This pain also stops at menopause, unless a woman chooses to take hormonal therapy (which can cause it to reoccur).

About two thirds of the women who suffer breast pain, suffers from cyclical pain.

Stress can also cause this pain to worsen, especially when a woman does a lot of heavy lifting or puts a lot of stress on her upper arms.

Non-cyclical pain is not as common. It occurs when pain is not associated with any hormonal changes.

Sometimes this can occur through injury of the breast tissue or when a biopsy has been done on the breast.