Right before your period, your body releases two powerful hormones, Progesterone and Oestrogen. These hormones cause your body to hang on to water, especially around your chest area. The pain and sensitivity might be worse during the 7 days right before your period. If other parts of your body also start to swell (like your fingers, ankles etc) then you can be fairly confident that this tenderness is because of your menstrual cycle. If the swelling doesn't stop, you should schedule an appointment with the doc.
Growing pains
One of the times that your breasts might feel most painful is when they are starting to develop. Your body is chock-a-block full of hormones that are released during puberty and one of these hormones (Progestin) has a tendency to make your breasts feel not so cool. Right by where your nipple is, you might also feel a small lump, this is known as the ‘breast bud’ and is just your breast getting itself ready to grow. Your skin may feel itchy and irritated around the chest area, which is the skin adjusting to the changes in your body. Some girls find a moisturiser that has Vitamin E or Aloe Vera helps soothe the irritation.
You might feel uncomfortable during this part of your development, so talk to women who you trust about what’s going down in your bod. Get your mum or your bestie to come with you to get the right size bra fitted (this will make your breasts feel more comfortable and better supported) and if you get a bit blue about it all remember the tenderness in your breasts will go away just as quickly as it came.
Other causes
- The Pill has also been known to cause sore breasts either when you start taking the Pill or when you stop using it. Normally, it’s just part of your body’s adjustment process to the changes the Pill makes to your hormones.
- Getting pregnant can also make your breasts hurt as your body gets prepared to feed the baby growing inside you. The same two hormones we spoke about above are released when you get pregnant so your body goes through some big time changes, like your breasts filling with milk (they can swell up to 2 cup sizes during pregnancy, wow!). So if you find your breasts are sore for an extended amount of time, and you've noticed other weird things going on with your body like morning queasiness, feeling more tired than usual and missing periods, you should get yourself a pregnancy test just to be on the safe side.
- There are also different sicknesses (Fibrocystic breast tissue, Mastitis, Fibroadenoma plus a range of others) that can cause your breasts to become really sore, although these more commonly affect more mature age women.
- So when is breast pain something serious? Well if the pain you feel becomes suddenly worse, if you have ‘stuff’ coming out of either nipple, if you notice a lump that hasn’t gone away for a while then make a doctor's appointment as soon as you can!
The advice provided in this material is general in nature and is not intended as medical advice. If you need medical advice, please consult your health care professional.
