Your Health - Mastalgia

Mastalgia

(Breast Pain)

Definition

Mastalgia is breast pain. There are two types of mastalgia, cyclical and noncyclic. Cyclical breast pain is most often associated with menstrual periods. Noncyclic pain does not vary with the menstrual cycle.

Causes

Mastalgia can be caused by:

Hormonal changes associated with the menstrual cycle
Trauma to the breast
Arthritis in the chest cavity and neck

Risk Factors

These factors increase your chance of developing mastalgia. Tell your doctor if you have any of these risk factors:

Relatively high hormone levels (estrogen and progesterone) of the second half of the menstrual cycle
History of arthritis
Irritation of cervical (neck) nerve roots

Cervical Nerve Roots

Symptoms

Symptoms of mastalgia may include:

Pain in the breast area, ranging from minor discomfort to severe pain

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam. Breast cancer does not commonly cause pain. However, your doctor may also do a mammogram .

Treatment

Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Treatment options include:

Ruling Out Cancer

Worry of cancer can be the main concern associated with mastalgia. Performing a mammogram to rule out cancer as a cause can provide reassurance.

Medications

Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) may reduce the pain associated with mastalgia. Also, toremifene (Fareston), which is used in the hormonal treatment of breast cancer, may help reduce cyclical mastalgia.

Prevention

The best way to prevent mastalgia is to avoid trauma to the breast. Wearing a sports bra when exercising can also prevent breast pain and tenderness.

RESOURCES:

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
http://www.acog.org/

The National Women's Health Information Center
http://www.4woman.gov/

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Women's Health Network
http://www.cwhn.ca/indexeng.html/

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
http://www.sogc.org/

References:

Mastalgia. DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php . Accessed May 21, 2007.

Mastalgia and breast lumps: breast disorders. Merck Manual Professional website. Available at: http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec18/ch253/ch253b.html . Accessed May 21, 2007.

Last reviewed September 2009 by Ganson Purcell Jr., MD, FACOG, FACPE

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.