Breast pain is a common side effect of hormonal birth control. Especially when you take a combination pill with estrogen and progestogen, your body can experience increased hormones which can lead to breast tenderness.
Cyclical breast pain is usually felt just before your period, and is caused by natural fluctuations in hormones. It can be relieved by using a comfortable bra, staying hydrated, and taking over-the-counter painkillers.
Cyclical breast pain
Cyclical breast pain, which comes and goes every month, occurs in up to 70 percent of premenopausal women. Usually, this type of pain, which is also known as mastalgia, is felt in the upper outer parts of both breasts and can extend to the armpits. The pain typically peaks about two weeks before your period begins and is often described as a feeling of fullness or heaviness in the chest.
If you experience cyclical breast pain while taking birth control, your doctor may want to test your blood hormone levels and see what is causing the change in your body. If the symptoms are not caused by a medical condition, they may recommend you try a different type of birth control pill or a non-hormonal method of contraception like condoms, the diaphragm, or a copper coil.
Having breast or chest pain is not a good sign and can cause a lot of anxiety in a woman, especially if she’s experiencing cyclical breast pain. It’s important to know that cyclical pain is not a symptom of breast cancer, which affects around one in eight premenopausal women in the United States.
Changes in breast size
Women’s breasts go through many changes throughout the course of their lives. These changes can be due to a variety of factors including age, pregnancy, breastfeeding, exercise and genetics. However, these changes are usually normal and do not have any long-term health effects.
One of the most common breast changes is a change in size. Some women’s breasts will grow larger or smaller, depending on the season and their hormone levels. This can cause breast pain or nipple discharge. However, this is usually not a serious problem if it happens to both breasts and goes away after the menstrual cycle.
Another common breast change is a decrease in firmness. This can be caused by a decrease in estrogen or a loss of muscle tissue. This can also cause nipple tissue to shrink or become softer. Some women may notice that their breasts seem to sag and that the area around them, called the areola, disappears.
It is important to monitor any changes in breast size and shape. If they are asymmetrical, it is a good idea to see a physician. Women should always wear a supportive bra and perform regular self-exams to ensure that they are healthy. If they have any unusual nipple discharge or a lump that is not painful, it’s important to talk to a physician.
Changes in breast shape
Changing breast size and shape can be alarming, but many of these changes are perfectly normal and not something to worry about. Sometimes, these changes happen over time without any cause at all, and sometimes they can be tied to hormonal fluctuations or other natural occurrences.
A woman’s breasts are made up of fatty, fibrous and glandular tissue. The fatty tissue gives them their size and shape, while the fibrous tissue provides support and structure. A woman’s breasts can be a variety of shapes, including nipple-pointed (bell-shaped), fuller on the bottom and narrower on the top (everted) or asymmetrical where one breast is larger than the other (inverted).
The most common changes in breast shape occur during puberty, pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause. The hormones that trigger puberty make a woman’s breasts get bigger and form the nipple. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, a woman’s breasts get even heavier and denser, while the nipple gets darker in color as milk ducts form to feed a baby.
Changes in a woman’s breasts can also be caused by weight gain or loss, exercise, and hereditary factors. The nipple and areola can also become more pronounced as women age, but a well-fitting bra can help keep sagging at bay. If a woman is concerned about breast shape, she should speak with her health care provider to discuss her options.
Changes in breast texture
The ebb and flow of hormones throughout your menstrual cycle can cause changes in the texture of your breast tissue. This can make your boobs feel lumpy or ropelike in texture. This is called fibrocystic breast change and it is normal.
If you notice any new or sudden changes to your nipples, breasts, or skin around them, talk to your doctor right away. It might be nothing, but it’s best to find out sooner than later!
A common change to the texture of your boobs is puckering or an indentation near one nipple. This is a sign that the nearby lymph nodes are blocked. This can cause the surrounding skin to thicken and feel warm. These changes to the surface of the breast are usually a red flag for inflammatory breast cancer (IBC).
Another possible change in your boobs is fluid leaking from one or both nipples. This can happen if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It can also be caused by a medical condition like cysts or a fibroadenoma.
