Mastodynia is breast pain, which can be cyclical or noncyclical and can have various causes such as an ill-fitting bra, hormonal changes, pregnancy, or underlying diseases. Treatment options include pain relievers, hormone-affecting drugs, and natural remedies. Breast pain is rarely associated with breast cancer.
Mastodynia is a medical term which means that a patient suffers from pain in the breast. Sometimes the pain is associated with the menstrual cycle, but for some people, mastodynia is a symptom of an underlying disease. Occasionally, a patient may have breast pain that has no identifiable cause, although the problem can be found in simple causes such as an ill-fitting bra. Breast pain generally does not indicate the presence of breast cancer, although you can seek the advice of a doctor to make sure. Other commonly used terms for breast pain include mastalgia or breast tenderness.
Breast pain can follow the menstrual cycle or be unrelated to the menstrual cycle. Men and boys can also suffer from breast tissue pain, and this is especially common during puberty when the chest develops. When pain in women is related to menstruation, it is called cyclical, as it occurs repeatedly at the same times in the cycle.
A woman’s body changes in the space of a cycle, which can have effects such as breast enlargement at a certain point in the cycle, or even the production of mastodynia at particular times. Commonly the pain is most noticeable in the week or two before menstruation and then disappears at the beginning of the period. Menopausal women who do not take hormone replacement therapy do not have a menstrual cycle and therefore do not suffer from cyclic mastodynia. Characteristics of cyclic pain include involvement of both breasts, pain that focuses on the top and outside of the breast, and a generalized lump can also develop in the breast tissue.
Severe cases of cyclic mastodynia may benefit from treatments such as simple pain relievers, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, or drugs that affect hormone levels. Natural medications such as evening primrose oil and vitamin B6 are also sometimes recommended. Simple measures such as wearing a bra that supports the breasts comfortably and effectively can also improve the level of perceived pain.
Although cyclic mastodynia accounts for about two-thirds of breast pain cases, other problems can also cause mastodynia. Breast pain is only rarely associated with breast cancer, although it is a possible symptom. Pregnancy and breastfeeding can also produce pain in the breasts, due to the swelling of the breasts with milk and the potential accompaniment of mastitis infections. Various problems with the muscle or bone under the breast tissue can produce pain in the breast itself, and shingles rashes can be another cause of pain in the area. A condition called fibrocystic breasts is one of the most common causes of noncyclic mastodynia, as the breast tissue becomes abnormally lumpy and tender.
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