Breast pain and tenderness are common symptoms. They do not always indicate a disease. How to understand why the left papilla hurts in women? What to do to relieve pain? Let's figure out whether it's worth seeing a doctor if your nipple starts to hurt.

First of all, it is worth noting that severe pain in one nipple is always an alarming symptom. If the pain is caused by natural causes, it is usually localized in two mammary glands at once. Therefore, it is worth monitoring your condition, and if symptoms of at least one of the breast diseases appear, consult a doctor.

If the pain is not severe and is accompanied by discomfort in both mammary glands, most likely the reason lies in natural cyclical causes.

If the left nipple hurts, the reasons can be both natural and pathological. The following reasons for pain in the left nipple can be identified:

  • Lactation. Or the process of lactation itself or injuries received during breastfeeding.
  • Premenstrual syndrome.
  • Taking various hormonal hormones medicines, these include oral contraceptives.
  • Diseases of the mammary glands, acute or chronic.

All these reasons can cause both severe pain in the nipple on the left and soreness in the entire mammary gland. It is important to assess the nature and location of the pain: it can be sharp or dull, constant or spastic, and can radiate to the scapula, arm or shoulder.

The most common reasons

One of the most common reasons is wearing the wrong underwear. If your nipples are red and very sore, but there are no other symptoms, you should change your bra to a model made of softer fabric. If the pain does not go away, you need to look further for the cause.

Let's look at natural cyclical causes. These are normal processes that occur in the chest at a certain period. They are not a reason to see a doctor.

Natural cyclical causes include mastodynia. This is the name for soreness that occurs in the last days of the cycle, before menstruation. This symptom is associated with a sharp rise in progesterone levels in the blood. One nipple or both may hurt. The pain increases with swelling, so before menstruation it is recommended to consume less salt and follow the correct drinking regime. Very often before menstruation the tip of the nipple hurts. This is a normal situation and is not a cause for concern unless the pain is severe.

Many girls and women experience pain when touching their nipples. Then you can try not to disturb your breasts and choose comfortable underwear. If the reason really lies in the menstrual cycle, the pain will go away on days 3-5 of the cycle, closer to the end of menstruation. By this time, the level of progesterone will decrease, and other symptoms will disappear - hypersensitivity and swelling.

If you are not sure that the pain is caused by a natural cause, you should make an appointment with a mammologist. It is better to visit this doctor in the second week of the cycle, when the hormonal levels are as stable as possible.

Breast pathologies

Pain caused by pathological causes may indicate a variety of diseases. They all require mandatory medical supervision. Non-cyclical pathological pain is called mastalgia.

The main causes of pathological pain:

  • Endocrine chronic diseases, most often hypothyroidism.
  • Tumors of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus.
  • Diseases of the adrenal glands.
  • Inflammatory and infectious processes in the chest.
  • Neoplasms in the mammary gland.
  • Liver diseases.
  • Intercostal neuralgia.
  • Stress and overexertion.
  • Long-term use of hormonal drugs.

It is difficult to determine a specific disease on your own. It is better to entrust this matter to a specialist.

If you have chronic hormonal diseases, diseases of the liver, kidneys or adrenal glands, you should consult with a specialist who treats the underlying disease. Most likely, he will refer you for a consultation with a mammologist. If there is fever and redness in the nipple area, an urgent consultation is required; such symptoms indicate an infectious process.

Examination and diagnosis

When complaining of pain in the left nipple, the mammologist will conduct an initial examination and prescribe a diagnosis. Standard diagnostic tests include:

  • Mammography is the most popular and informative examination.
  • Ultrasound of the mammary glands.
  • Ultrasound of the pelvic organs or thyroid gland (prescribed for concomitant chronic diseases).
  • Hormone tests.
  • General blood and urine tests.
  • Puncture or biopsy - if there is discharge or nipples or a detected tumor.

If the disease is caused by some chronic process in other organs, the mammologist will refer you for consultation to the appropriate specialist - an endocrinologist, gynecologist.

Pregnancy and lactation

Pain in the nipples often appears in the first days breastfeeding. Only one nipple may hurt, as it is more injured. The fact is that the skin on and around the nipples is very thin and sensitive. The first attempts at feeding can lead to the formation of cracks and stagnation of milk. If you attach your baby incorrectly, the pain will not go away until you master proper feeding.

What to do if your nipple hurts while feeding your baby?

  1. First of all, it is worth mastering the correct position for feeding. Then the nipple will be less injured and the discomfort will go away over time.
  2. It is important to follow basic hygiene rules, but avoid harsh shower gels and other products that can cause irritation.
  3. You need to choose a comfortable bra.

One nipple may also hurt if cracks appear on it. Then coping with the pain will be a little more difficult. The first time you can use special nozzle for feeding - this is to prevent infection and further injury. You can feed only one breast, then you will have to express the second one to avoid stagnation of milk.

Sore nipples may be a sign of pregnancy. Of course, this is not an exact diagnostic sign, but nipples often hurt in the first and second trimester. This is due to the fact that complex hormonal changes occur during pregnancy. Under the influence of female sex hormones, the breasts begin to grow - new lobules appear, more glandular tissue becomes available, and colostrum begins to be released. But if one nipple hurts during pregnancy, you should consult a doctor. This may be due to both wearing uncomfortable underwear and the development of certain breast diseases. It is difficult to accurately determine the cause without special diagnostics.

How to get rid of pain

We figured out the main reasons for pain in the left nipple. Now you need to determine how you can alleviate the condition and get rid of discomfort.

Here is an algorithm of actions to improve the condition:

  • Visit to a specialist. A visit to the doctor is required if you are not sure that the pain is caused by natural causes. Below we will look at the main reasons to see a doctor. There are diseases in which only proper treatment can relieve symptoms.
  • Minimize injury. Touch your breasts as little as possible and choose the softest underwear possible. It is important that the bra does not squeeze the breast, and the seams should not touch the nipple.
  • If the pain is caused by cracks in the nipple, it is necessary to restore the softness and elasticity of the skin. To do this, you need to select caring and emollient products. It is worth giving up soap and shower gels - they only irritate the skin. Various oil-based products are best suited for care.

You should not use different medicines without a doctor's prescription. For example, pain medications may mask symptoms, making it more difficult for your doctor to determine the root cause of your pain.

Reasons for concern

There are quite a few reasons for pain. But there are a number obvious signs serious problems in the body.

If these symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor without delay:

  • Discharge from the nipples of any color, not associated with pregnancy or lactation. Bloody discharge is especially dangerous.
  • Changes in the shape, color or size of the nipple or areola.
  • Swelling around the nipple, rash, redness or sores.

A specialist will help you resolve your doubts. Usually pain in the left nipple is caused by natural causes, but in rare cases it can be a symptom of a dangerous disease. Then the main task is to identify the disease in time and treat it at an early stage.

The nipple is the sensitive part of a woman's breast. It is not uncommon for women to experience pain in this area. Painful sensations vary: from tingling when pressing on the nipple to sharp, stabbing spasms that flow under the shoulder blade and forearm area. The causes of painful conditions are different - some can be quickly eliminated, but others require urgent surgical intervention. Let's find out when nipple hypersensitivity is a temporary, harmless process, and when it is a serious symptom of a serious illness.

Provocateurs of nipple pain in women

According to medical statistics, painful sensations appear in 60-65% of the female population (in men, such symptoms are less pronounced and less common). Women who care about their health are required to regularly examine their mammary glands. If you feel pain, you should analyze why your nipples hurt, identify the cause and determine whether you should be alarmed.

Hormones are the culprits

Monthly cycle. Nipples hurt before menstruation in 8 out of 10 women. This is due to hormones (their changes during the monthly cycle). Pain in the mammary glands, nipples, and lower abdomen begins 3-6 days before the onset of menstruation. These symptoms are regular and are called “cyclic mastodynia”.

In the period before the monthly cycle, women experience a sharp surge in the hormones progesterone and prolactin, and other hormonal substances join them. Hormonal activity provokes retention of water and electrolytes in female body.

Once the breast tissue swells, it puts pressure on the nerve endings. This provokes swelling and pain in the nipple area. For some representatives of the fair sex, painful sensations begin already at the moment of ovulation (middle of the cycle). With the onset of menstruation, the hormonal balance returns to normal, the pain goes away. Such situations are normal and do not require treatment.

Diseases. Hormonal imbalances depend not only on the female monthly cycle. Some diseases cause unstable hormone production:

  • Problems with the nervous system.
  • Problems in the thyroid gland.
  • Disruptions in the normal functioning of the adrenal glands.

If your nipple hurts after your period ends, consult your doctor.

Contraceptives. If, when choosing oral contraceptives, you are guided by the advice of your friends, you will experience painful sensations in the nipple area. How is this related? All with the same changes in hormonal levels, which are destabilized due to inappropriate hormonal drugs.

Oral contraceptives are selected individually! Only after the tests and the gynecologist’s verdict.

But even if you purchased the “correct” hormonal contraceptives, take the pills according to the instructions! An overdose can cause not only nipple pain, but also dizziness, sudden weight gain and other unpleasant symptoms.

Pregnancy. Nipples hurt during late and late pregnancy early stages. Hormonal changes in the body are also to blame, and breast swelling indicates that the body is preparing to produce breast milk. If, in addition to painful sensations, you feel nausea, drowsiness, fatigue, or have a delay in menstruation, check yourself for pregnancy!

Nipple pain when breastfeeding

Breastfeeding necessary for a baby requires preparation and knowledge from the mother. Why do my nipples hurt when feeding? Illiterate breastfeeding is the main cause of painful nipple syndrome. What do mommies do wrong?

The baby is placed incorrectly. This is especially true for first-time mothers, who were not taught feeding techniques in the maternity hospital. In addition to pain in the mammary gland, poor attachment leads to problems in the development of the child (gas formation, poor weight, colic). Signs of poor attachment:

  1. After finishing feeding breast milk there is a feeling of a full chest.
  2. The appearance of sounds in the baby that are not associated with swallowing.
  3. Breast glands slide when baby tries to suckle.
  4. Unbearable pain in the nipple area during feeding.
  5. The baby's lips turn inward.
  6. The baby does not latch on to the nipple.

After such a process, cracks and bloody wounds appear in the nipple area. Moreover, the skin of the nipples is extremely thin, and the baby’s gums are hard. If no measures are taken, infection penetrates into the chest through wounds and gives rise to serious illnesses.

Illiterate completion of GV. When the baby is sucking, do not move the baby to the side - he will bite the nipple harder, causing pain. At the end of feeding, place your finger in the corner of the baby’s mouth, carefully move the baby’s gums away, and remove him from the breast.

Improper nipple care. Nipples hurt if, if an inexperienced mother washes them with alcohol-containing solutions, wears tight synthetic bras, or roughly rubs her breasts after a shower. Such care creates conditions for abrasions, cracks, and constant pain.

Congenital anomalies. The nipple area hurts throughout the entire period of feeding the baby if there are congenital warts, folds, skin growths, or the nipples themselves are depressed. Increased sensitivity of the breast from birth provokes the appearance of pain (in this case, the pain in the nipple area goes away as the breast gets used to new conditions).

Diseases. Painful sensations in the nipples during breastfeeding are caused by a number of diseases:

  • Mastitis. Characteristic signs of the disease are redness, hardening of the nipple, sharp pain when touching it, and increased temperature. The infection enters the body through damage and microcracks. As the disease develops, the gland swells and provokes the formation of an abscess. Mastitis is treated with surgery and medication.
  • Candidiasis infection. Candida fungus affects the skin and mucous membranes. When feeding, it is localized in the nipple area. They itch and hurt. In addition to pain symptoms, there is swelling, inflammation of the nipple area, the appearance of blisters and cracks. If nipple candidiasis is not treated, this leads to infection of the baby during feeding and the development of stomatitis.
  • Lactostasis. The disease provokes stagnation of milk in the mammary glands. With lactostasis, the doctor recommends putting the baby to the breast more often so that it empties completely. After recovery, pain in the nipple area persists for another 2-3 days.

Getting used to the baby. Nipples hurt 3-4 days after the baby is born. This is explained by the replacement of colostrum in the glands with true milk. The pain goes away when the baby begins to breastfeed well. A woman’s body is designed ideally; it ultimately produces as much milk as the baby needs. This “addiction” of the breast to the baby lasts 3-4 days. Pain in the nipples serves as a signal that it is time to feed the baby.

When breastfeeding, the nipples hurt due to the constant work of the mammary glands themselves, when milk rapidly arrives. The causes of pain include a breast pump that does not fit well to the nipple area. Don't forget to take care of your nipples during breastfeeding! After feeding, wash the mammary glands with warm water, treat wounds and cracks immediately using a healing cream for cracks (Bepanten, Lanolin, D-Panthenol).

Other causes of nipple pain

Injuries. A woman's nipples are too tender and easily injured. The risk of damage cannot be underestimated! Usually the nipple area is injured during sex when the partner bites it with his teeth. Healing lasts for 3-4 months. This time is painful for a woman. Bites provoke not only external hemorrhages, but also internal ones.

The human mouth contains 600-700 bacteria. Penetrating into the wound along with saliva, pathogenic microorganisms cause inflammatory processes that penetrate deep into the nipple.

If the damage to the nipple area is minor, without bleeding, use regenerating creams. To prevent infections, the nipple area is treated with brilliant green, miramistin or peroxide. Sea buckthorn oil has a healing effect. Compresses with antimicrobial agents (furacilin or syntomycin liniment) help speed up regeneration and relieve inflammation.

Postoperative period. After operations aimed at breast augmentation or reconstruction, pain in the nipple area is normal. The breasts get used to the new sizes. In rare cases, the implant causes rejection and inflammatory reactions. During the postoperative period, fluid (lymph) may accumulate in the mammary glands or nerve endings may be compressed. Consult your surgeon for further surgery.

Allergy. Severe, painful itching of the nipple area is caused by allergies. The culprit of allergic manifestations is the powder remaining after rinsing, bleach. Allergies are caused by synthetics from which underwear is made, individual elements of jewelry (lace, braid), and poorly dyed fabrics. Try replacing hygiene products (deodorants, creams, gels, soaps) - they also provoke allergic reactions and pain in the nipple area.

Mastopathy. If we take away microtraumas, breastfeeding, and allergies, mastopathy (fibrocystic pathology of the mammary glands) becomes the main culprit of pain in the nipple area. The disease has two types, each type creates aching pain in the nipple area:

  1. Diffuse. In addition to pain, discharge begins from the nipples (colorless or mixed with blood).
  2. Nodal. With mastopathy of this type, pain in the nipple area is not very pronounced. They hurt where the node is located. In 45% of cases, the pain in the nipple area increases, becoming unbearable.

If you have mastopathy, you should be examined, have an ultrasound of the mammary glands and be treated. IN advanced cases the disease gives impetus to the occurrence of cancer. In this regard, nodular mastopathy is dangerous. For such a disease, conservative treatment is not prescribed (it is useless); only surgical intervention helps.

Diseases. Discomfort in the nipple area is caused by many ailments, which any woman should know about:

  • Paget's disease. A variant of breast cancer. This type of cancer is characterized by aching, nagging pain nipples The disease is insidious in that at first the symptoms are similar to eczema and do not cause concern. The nipples become swollen, begin to peel and turn red. Then the symptoms subside. Soon they return, with a lump in the chest, burning, pain in the nipples, and spotting.
  • Psoriasis. An allergic disease affecting the nipple area. The suspicion of the disease is (in addition to pain) the appearance of flaky red spots.
  • Eczema. The disease manifests itself as severe itching and the appearance of blisters with weeping crusts. Nipple pain with eczema is itchy.
  • Herpes. The dangerous virus affects all parts of the body, often foci of infection are located in the nipple area. There is itching, burning, redness, and the appearance of blisters with a colorless liquid.
  • Impetigo. When microtrauma occurs in the nipples, an infection penetrates there, causing impetigo. Impetigo of the nipple area occurs with cutting pain and the formation of pustules. After opening the abscess, crusts remain on the body, then ulcers. The disease comes with an increase in temperature and a weakening of health.

Nerve damage. Acute stabbing pain in the nipples is caused by nerve damage. The peripapillary region is rich in nerve endings. Trauma occurs due to a blow or as a surgical complication. Sometimes the pain goes away on its own, but more often the painful post-traumatic syndrome is long-lasting and requires treatment.

Nipple discomfort occurs when an incorrectly selected bra or poor posture. Taking antidepressants also causes pain. But not only women have sore nipples. There are cases when men also suffer from pain and burning in these areas of the chest.

Causes of pain in men

The male breast consists of ducts and small blood vessels. It is also characterized by increased sensitivity and trauma. Diseases that cause pain in the nipple area are easier in men. Basically, the problems are associated with hormonal imbalances. What causes nipple pain in men?

Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia is not a separate disease, it is a syndrome that combines a complex of disease symptoms. Symptoms manifest themselves in enlargement of the mammary glands in men, and pain in the nipple. Gynecomastia affects 50-70% of young men and boys, 40-45% of adult men, 70-75% of the elderly. There are two types of disease:

  1. True. Male breasts grow, “turning into female breasts.” The process is accompanied by nagging painful sensations in the nipple area.
  2. False. With such gynecomastia, fatty breast tissue grows. A tingling pain is felt in the nipples.

With gynecomastia, the breasts increase by 4-5 cm. This pathology brings not only physical, but also psychological discomfort.

Causes of the syndrome. In 9 out of 10 cases, the culprit is a sharp increase in the female hormone estrogen, while the amount of testosterone decreases. The problem is provoked by taking drugs, alcohol, and corticosteroids. Gynecomastia often occurs in professional athletes who have completed their sports career. False gynecomastia appears as a result of obesity.

An endocrinologist deals with the syndrome of enlarged male mammary glands. After a series of examinations, the patient is prescribed hormonal drugs, stabilizing the background. At the end of treatment, the breasts return to their normal state, and nipple pain goes away.

Endocrine system diseases

Doctors have not established exactly why malfunctions occur in the endocrine organs (hormone factory). Among the causes are hereditary factors, poor environmental conditions, prolonged stress, and unbalanced nutrition. Endocrine diseases are difficult and difficult to treat. They are accompanied by various symptoms, including sore nipples. The following diseases can provoke endocrine disorders:

  • Reifenstein and Klinefelter syndromes.
  • Tumors of the pituitary gland, adrenal glands, testicles.
  • Dystrophy, hypothyroidism, liver cirrhosis.
  • Diabetes.

Diseases that begin with endocrine disruptions creep up unnoticed. Men tend not to go to the doctor, hoping that everything will “resolve on its own.” Such delay threatens the onset of dangerous diseases. At the first alarm bells, you should immediately visit a doctor.

When to worry

If, in addition to painful discomfort in your nipples, you have the following symptoms, go to the doctor immediately! Such signs indicate the emergence of serious diseases, even cancer problems:

  • Constant pain in the nipple area, flowing into the armpit area.
  • Discharge from the nipples (sacral, bloody, purulent).
  • Swelling of the mammary gland, severe pain, redness.
  • The appearance of cracks, erosion ulcers.
  • Change in color and size of the nipple.
  • Fever, nausea, vomiting.

Not only women need to monitor the condition of their mammary glands! Regular examination of the breasts and nipples will help to identify problems in time and prevent their dangerous development!

Almost every woman has experienced chest pain several times throughout her life. If your nipples hurt, the most common reason is hormonal changes that occur during puberty, pregnancy, lactation and menopause. To accurately answer the question of why discomfort in the nipple area bothers us, we have prepared a detailed article describing all the reasons.

Before your period: premenstrual syndrome

PMS or premenstrual syndrome is the cyclical period that precedes menstruation. During this time, mental and physical symptoms, which usually disappear on the first day of the menstrual cycle. For some women, PMS only stops at the end of menstruation. The main cause of PMS is hormonal changes that affect the central nervous system.

Over the course of approximately 28 days, which corresponds to the average menstrual cycle, a woman's body undergoes several changes that prepare the uterus for pregnancy. In the first 14 days (the first phase of the menstrual cycle), the period of preparation for ovulation begins - estrogen levels increase. This hormone is responsible for the general condition of a woman. In the next 14 days (the second stage of the menstrual cycle), the endometrium on the walls of the uterus begins to thicken - to prepare a “bed” for a possible child. At this stage, there is a decrease in estrogen levels and an increase in progesterone levels. This change, where one hormone drops very sharply and another rises, can cause a number of symptoms, including chest pain. It is during this period, after ovulation, that many women experience severe nipple pain.

With PMS, most women experience physical symptoms - sore nipples before menstruation, breast swelling, bloating, swelling, nausea, changes in appetite. And also psychological - irritability, tearfulness, depression.

To relieve PMS symptoms, it is important to exercise regularly. physical activity to relieve feelings of pain, tension and anxiety. Exercise releases hormones that make you feel good, improve bowel movements and reduce fatigue.

In severe cases, the use of contraception is indicated, which may help reduce symptoms.

Breast cyst

The cyst is the most common benign breast disease and can be found in women of any age, although the disease most often occurs in women between 35 and 50 years of age.

There may be one cyst or there may be several of them, located only on one or in both mammary glands. They can be round or oval, and are often described by patients as shaped like a grape or a small balloon filled with water that can be palpated in the chest.

In medicine, a cyst is any liquid or semi-liquid inclusion that is surrounded by a membrane, forming a kind of sac or bag. Breast cysts consist of fluid, which is a mixture of water and mineral salts.

The probable cause of cysts is associated with hormonal abnormalities during the menstrual cycle and lifestyle, but the exact mechanism that leads to their formation is not yet clear.

Breast cysts can be classified depending on their size:

  • Microcysts. These are very small breast cysts that can be detected during a test such as a mammogram or ultrasound, but they are too small. Cysts are usually less than 0.4 cm in diameter.
  • Macrokists- These are fairly large breast cysts; they can be detected by palpating the breast. They can reach up to 5 cm in diameter. Macrocysts can compress adjacent breast tissue and cause pain or discomfort.

Pain when palpating the cyst is also common, especially if it is large (more than 2.0 cm). In some women, cysts may begin to hurt spontaneously.

Breast cysts that are simple and asymptomatic do not require any treatment. If the cyst is palpable, fine needle aspiration may be performed. However, recurrence of cysts is common, so the cause of their appearance must be identified.

Breast cysts are, by definition, benign. A simple breast cyst is not cancer, it does not risk becoming cancer, and does not increase the patient's risk of having cancer in the future.

Puberty

At various periods of life, women experience significant hormonal changes in the body and because of this, in many cases, pain in the nipples and breasts appears, as well as increased sensitivity in this area. Beginning at puberty, when the mammary glands begin to develop and grow, the breasts become more sensitive, a process that can cause serious discomfort. These symptoms disappear after development is complete. If the pain persists or becomes unbearable, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Pregnancy and lactation

Another important stage When women usually feel pain in their nipples, this is pregnancy. During these months, the body begins to prepare for childbirth and significant changes occur, such as thickening of the uterus and enlargement of the breasts. Breast tissue prepares to produce milk. There is also an increase in the production of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. All of these changes can lead to tenderness, pain, and hardening of the nipples and breasts. Usually, even before a woman finds out about pregnancy, she notices that her nipples are swollen and sore.

Since this is a natural process of the body and a transformation inherent in gestation, there is no way to avoid this increased sensitivity. However, it is important to know that pain is not normal. If during pregnancy you notice a significant increase in sensitivity, but no pain, this is normal. In case of severe pain, it is advisable to report the problem to your doctor.

Also, nipple pain is not a rare symptom during breastfeeding. In this case, unpleasant consequences may be complicated due to the child sucking at the breast; it becomes more sensitive than usual. If your nipples hurt after feeding, you need to reconsider the process itself. At this stage, in addition, inflammation of the mammary gland very often appears, which occurs when milk does not flow properly and remains in the ducts and accumulates. This disease causes symptoms such as pain, swelling, redness and hypersensitivity.

Overstimulation

Although the most common cause of nipple pain is hormonal changes, there can be other causes. For example, excessive arousal and stimulation. The nipples and areolas are very sensitive areas of the breast and any over stimulation can lead to pain in some cases. To avoid this, it is very important to remember the sensitivity of this area and control the degree of stimulation so that it is soft and leisurely.

Low temperature

During periods of low temperatures, the nipples may tighten and cause slight discomfort. Therefore, when cold weather sets in, it is recommended to use padded bras, dress well and take care of your skin by moisturizing it to avoid dryness.

It is also important to moisturize the skin of the body, including the nipples, all year round to prevent them from drying out and irritating the skin, which can ultimately cause some discomfort.

Allergy to fabric

There are people who are very sensitive to certain types of fabrics. The fabric of underwear or a T-shirt can cause nipple irritation and thus pain. In this case, you need to choose clothes made from natural fabrics, such as cotton, and not wear underwear made from synthetic fabrics.

Contact dermatitis can also occur and cause nipple pain, irritation and redness if you use cosmetic products or gel that are too harsh for your skin.

Injury and muscle training

After an injury or blow to the chest area, nipple pain may occur. If a hematoma appears as a result, there is bleeding or the pain is very severe, you should consult a doctor urgently for checks.

If you play sports, do push-ups and strain your pectoral muscles, this can cause discomfort in your chest. It’s worth waiting a few days and not putting stress on these muscles.

Mammary cancer

In very rare cases, nipple pain is a clear symptom of breast cancer. It is important to check appearance mammary glands to see if there are significant changes in their shape or if nodules are present. If all this is present, you should contact a mammologist or gynecologist immediately to confirm or exclude the diagnosis of this disease. Don't forget to check yourself at home every month after your period ends.

There is usually no need to use medications to relieve chest pain. To relieve unpleasant symptoms, it is enough to make some changes to your usual lifestyle.

  • Do not wear underwear that is too tight, which squeezes your chest.
  • Eat a healthy, low-fat diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Replace animal fats (cheese, sour cream, full-fat milk, fatty meat) with vegetable fats (olive, flaxseed oil).
  • Maintaining a healthy weight helps stabilize your hormone levels.
  • Increase your intake of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin B1 (thiamine) and vitamin E.

Breasts and nipples hurt for various reasons, timely identification of which will help cope with unpleasant symptoms and prevent the development of complications. A healthy lifestyle combined with a proper diet and daily routine will be the main preventive measure against hormonal imbalance and chest pain.

Breasts and nipples hurt in the majority of cases due to hormonal changes in a woman’s body, which are cyclical in nature. It is important to know what symptoms you should immediately consult a doctor to avoid the development of serious diseases.

Particular attention should be paid to the nature of chest pain, intensity and regularity. Natural physiological causes of pain are:

  • conception;
  • gestation period;
  • stressful conditions;
  • hormonal changes or disturbances;
  • lung diseases, osteochondrosis, vegetative-vascular dystonia;
  • taking hormonal drugs.

If the breast and nipple hurt for a long time, the symptoms may indicate the development of pathological processes or the presence of diseases. The following can cause pain:

  • hormonal disbalance,
  • mastopathy,
  • lactostasis,
  • cyst,
  • breast cancer

One breast hurts

Dislocation of pain in only one breast is an alarming symptom that requires consultation with a mammologist and, if necessary, laboratory diagnostics. The breast and nipple hurt on one side also when the baby is not fed correctly. You should perform proper application, avoiding awkward positions.

Chest hurts when pressed

Painful sensations when pressing on the chest are not always a sign of serious illness.

Initially, a thorough inspection at home should be performed. If your breast hurts when you press on the nipple, you will need to determine the cause of the unpleasant symptom.

The aching nature of the pain, as in the presence of a bruise, indicates a circulatory disorder. Unpleasant sensations arise from wearing uncomfortable, tight underwear. Stagnation of lymph occurs, causing inflammation and growth of tumors.

Chest pain on the side, bottom

The chest and nipple hurt on the side, below due to neuralgia, inflammatory processes in the lungs or after injury to the chest. The symptom may also indicate pathological diseases of the internal organs.

Unpleasant sensations can radiate under the chest, not having anything to do with breast diseases. Experts do not recommend ignoring pain and tingling in order to avoid worsening the disease.

Breasts hurt and are swollen and growing

Breast enlargement can occur cyclically, before menstruation, or during gestation. Pharmacy products in the form of creams and ointments will help eliminate pain and alleviate the condition. After the birth of the child, the hormonal levels return to normal, the discomfort disappears.

It is important to promptly pay attention to the symptom, excluding cancer and mastopathy. Lack of natural physiological reasons swelling and increase in size of the mammary glands may indicate the development of pathological processes.

Chest and lower abdomen hurt

Symptoms of discomfort in the lower abdomen and painful sensitivity of the mammary glands indicate pregnancy. Fullness of the uterus provokes pulling pains and increased blood circulation. Nipple hypersensitivity disappears in the second trimester of gestation and does not require special treatment.

Chest pain and fever

The chest and nipple hurt in combination with elevated body temperature in the presence of an infectious pathology. Mastitis often affects the mammary glands during breastfeeding (during lactation).

The infection develops in areas where the skin is damaged. Symptoms of the disease are pronounced: acute pain, purulent discharge from the nipples, swelling. An increase in body temperature signals the development of an acute inflammatory process.

The disease can develop through three stages:

  • initial (swelling, pain when touched);
  • after 10-15 years (intense pain, gland density increases during PMS);
  • final (formation of cysts; upon palpation of the nipple, pathological contents are released).

Observed general weakness, migraines, malaise. The signs of mastitis are very similar to the symptoms infectious diseases. Timely and correct treatment will help quickly eliminate the disease. Diagnosis involves examination by a doctor and laboratory research to determine the type of infectious agent.

Mastopathy

Pathological symptoms, when the breast and nipple hurt, may indicate the development of benign neoplasms in the mammary glands.

A common cause of diffuse or nodular mastopathy is hormonal imbalance.

Conservative treatment of mastopathy at the initial stage allows you to completely eliminate the pathology. Ignoring alarming symptoms can lead to complications and worsening of the condition due to the transformation of lumps into malignant tumors.

When and how do breasts and nipples begin to hurt, for how long?

Pain and discomfort in the mammary glands occur in the first trimester of pregnancy. Hormonal changes in the female body, an increase in progesterone levels causes structural changes in the breasts and uterus.

The growth of the number of alveolar lobes is stimulated, which contributes to an increase in the size of the mammary glands. During gestation, the stage of maximum breast development begins, accompanied by swelling and changes in the secretory apparatus.

The mammary glands during early pregnancy are distinguished by noticeable changes:

  • increase in size, swell;
  • the size and color of the nipple areola changes;
  • blood circulation increases.

An increase in estrogen levels in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy can also cause discomfort and pain in the chest. The substance gonadotropin is synthesized, which affects milk production and provokes an increase in the ducts of the mammary glands.

At the stage of hormonal changes, aching pain with a characteristic heaviness in the chest area may occur. To alleviate the condition, special underwear made of soft elastic fabric that can adapt to changing volumes will help.

In the last stages of pregnancy, discomfort and pain in the breasts are accompanied by itching. The symptom of hypersensitivity is caused by the secretion of the mammary glands.

Before your period

On the eve of menstruation, the breasts and nipples hurt due to cyclical hormonal surges and changes. At this stage, the female body is preparing for a possible conception; progesterone production increases.

A natural exacerbation of the sensitivity of the mammary glands and nipples during PMS does not require treatment. Comfortable underwear, taking vitamins, and the correct regimen will help alleviate the condition.

After menstruation - during ovulation

Discomfort appears during ovulation and only stops with the onset of discharge. After menstruation, in the absence of diseases and hormonal imbalances in women of reproductive age, the breasts and nipples do not hurt.

During pregnancy

Pregnancy makes hormonal adjustments in a woman’s body. The process of preparing the mammary glands for lactation causes discomfort. The breast and nipple hurt due to enlarged milk ducts and pressure on the nerve endings. Constant intense pain requires consultation with a gynecologist.

After childbirth

Increased sensitivity of the mammary glands after childbirth is directly related to the processes of lactation. After giving birth, it is recommended to immediately consult a specialist for advice.

By receiving information about how to properly attach a baby to the breast, advice on hygiene measures and choosing underwear, you can avoid discomfort. Gradually, after childbirth, the sensitivity of the mammary glands and nipples will return to normal, thanks to the normalization of the woman’s hormonal levels.

During and after feeding

The painful condition of the breasts and nipples of a nursing woman requires special attention. Discomfort often manifests itself in initial stage lactation. Special ointments and alternating breasts during feeding will help eliminate it. In addition, you can provide temporary rest to the painful side by expressing milk for bottle feeding.

Incorrect application and hypothermia can cause blockage of the milk ducts - lactostasis. Experts recommend timely treatment of painful lumps.

Massage and frequent applications at the initial stage of development of the pathology will help eliminate pain in the chest and nipples. It is important that the baby grasps part of the areola when feeding to avoid cracks and damage to the skin of the nipples.

During menopause

After a woman enters menopause, the breast and nipple hurt acyclically, without reference to the menstrual cycle. Painful symptoms can occur asymmetrically, appearing on only one side.

The nature of the pain is different and depends on hormonal levels and age-related changes in the woman’s body. There may be periodic or constant discomfort in the mammary glands.

In some cases, the intensity of pain requires medication correction. Symptoms of chest discomfort during menopause include increased sensitivity, itching, hardening of the glands and aching pain. It is important to exclude pathological factors that can also cause discomfort during menopause: cysts, injuries, neuralgia, hormonal imbalance.

After sex

The cause of discomfort in the mammary glands can be a woman’s low sexual activity. Rare sexual intercourse leads to the accumulation of hormones, which provokes itching of the nipples and severe breast pain.

The breast and nipple sometimes also hurt after sex. A hormonal surge stimulates orgasm after sexual intercourse, resulting in a rush of blood to the mammary glands. Painful sensations in such situations do not require therapy and will go away on their own. Regular sex life will relieve hormonal imbalance.

Chest pain after sex can occur due to injury during sexual intercourse, the presence of inflammatory processes in the lymph nodes or mammary gland. A visit to a mammologist will help rule out the onset of mastopathy or the development of an oncological process.

After birth control (Duphaston)

Taking contraceptives affects a woman's hormonal levels. Breast and nipple pain is usually due to an imbalance.

A consultation with a gynecologist will help determine the advisability of taking the drug and choose the most suitable option without side effects.

What to do if your breasts and nipples hurt badly

Preventive measures include maintaining healthy image life and regular visits to specialists.

To ease the condition when your breasts and nipples hurt, simple recommendations will help:

  • Consultation at a medical facility. Severe pain indicates the need to visit a specialist. It is important to promptly identify the cause of pain and obtain an adequate prescription from a doctor. The problem can only be eliminated by treating the disease, not eliminating the symptoms.
  • Minimize irritating factors. It is not recommended to provoke pain by constantly touching the mammary glands. Additionally, you should purchase comfortable seamless underwear made from natural fabrics.
  • Compliance with care and hygiene rules. Complete moisturizing, softening and massage will help relieve dry skin, cracked nipples and stretch marks. Conduct hygiene procedures It is better without soap, lubricating the nipples with sea buckthorn oil after bathing.

The breasts and nipples hurt with increasing intensity only with pathology. Discharge from the breast, changes in the shape of the nipple, the appearance of erosions and swelling are dangerous symptoms that require immediate medical attention.

Videos about pain in the chest and nipples

Why does my nipple and breast hurt? Causes, treatment, prevention:

Why does your chest hurt:

Many women experience nipple pain at certain times. It can be caused by various reasons, because nipples are one of the most sensitive areas of the body. And in many cases, hormones are to blame. Thus, sore nipples in the middle of the cycle in women of childbearing age is one of the signs of pregnancy.

However, the matter is complicated by the fact that this may also be a symptom of a disease. Most symptoms are not assigned an ICD 10 code. And from a medical point of view, soreness is the occurrence of discomfort and pain due to any physical influence, for example, touch, pressure or palpation by a doctor.

Causes of sore nipples

All causes of nipple pain can be divided into hormone-dependent and hormone-independent. Cyclic soreness reflects the condition of the mammary glands, which is determined by the level of steroid hormones such as estrogen, estradiol, progesterone, prolactin, as well as luteotropic hormone produced by the pituitary gland.

Sore nipples in the middle of the cycle are most often also associated with menstruation, since for many women the body begins to prepare for ovulation (the release of a mature egg from the ovary) approximately in the middle of the menstrual cycle. This process takes from several days to a week or more after the last day of menstruation. If women are protected from unwanted pregnancy for a long time with drugs containing hormones, then they may also experience symptoms of sore nipples.

Gynecologists explain sore nipples after ovulation by a sharp reduction in the production of estradiol and progesterone.

Pain in the nipples of varying intensity after menstruation can be both a sign of pregnancy, for more details see – Pain after menstruation, and a symptom of fibrous formations in the mammary gland. And sore nipples during menopause are a consequence of age-related hormonal decline. But even if estrogen levels in the body before menopause are lower than before, it remains the dominant sex hormone in the female body, and the first signs of impending menopause may include painful nipples.

Special cases of periodic painful sensations in the area of ​​juices include women undergoing hysterectomy operations, during which the cervix and ovaries were not removed. According to medical statistics, complications of such operations in 90% of patients are various pathologies of the mammary glands, including fibrocystic mastopathy.

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Pathogenesis

The pathogenesis of non-cyclic pain does not have a hormonal factor. On the upper part of the nipple there are more than a dozen milk pores, which actively work only during lactation, and the skin of the nipples is delicate and sensitive, as it is equipped with many nerve endings. Sore nipples during feeding are caused by cracked nipples - see detailed article Nipple pain.

Any traumatic impact can lead to painful sensations outside the period of breastfeeding - synthetic fabrics or bra seams, detergents etc. In addition, non-hormone-dependent causes of nipple soreness include dermatological pathologies such as:

  • allergic or idiopathic eczema, see - Eczema on the nipples;
  • damage to the skin of the nipple by Streptococcus agalactiae and the development of streptoderma (impetigo);
  • superficial candidiasis;
  • herpesvirus infection localized on the nipple;
  • folliculitis (inflammation of the areola hair follicles located close to the nipple).

The most dangerous reason sore nipples - Paget's disease (cancer), the symptoms of which at first are very similar to the symptoms of eczema.

Sore nipples in men also have many causes, among which doctors note: direct trauma to the nipple; constant irritating friction of the nipple by tight-fitting sportswear (runner's nipple syndrome); gynecomastia (enlargement of the mammary glands due to an imbalance of male and female hormones in the body); taking anabolic steroids.

But in adolescents and young men, nipple pain when touched is hormonal in nature, and after the onset of sexual activity this condition disappears without a trace. However, if you are overweight or have diabetes, symptoms of sore nipples may persist for years.

If left untreated, non-cyclical nipple soreness can lead to complications that depend on the nature of the infection and can lead to the development of a serious inflammatory process. Its consequences can result in various types of mastopathy, which will require surgical treatment.

Diagnosis of sore nipples

Standard diagnosis of nipple soreness is based on anamnesis, physical and palpation examination of the mammary glands.

In cases of sore nipples associated with lactation, making a diagnosis does not cause difficulties, and obstetricians-gynecologists successfully cope with this task. But, taking into account the factor of hormone dependence of this condition, in other situations tests may be prescribed:

  • enzyme immunoassay blood test for hormone levels;
  • blood test for the presence of IgM antibodies to the herpes simplex virus;
  • bacterial culture of the nipple skin for coccal infection and Candida Albicans;

Instrumental diagnostics mainly include mammographic examination (breast x-ray) and examination of the condition of the milk ducts (ductography).

If there is reason to suspect Paget's disease, a differential diagnosis is carried out and a blood test is taken for proteins of tumor cells (tumor markers), as well as an ultrasound of the breast.

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Treatment for sore nipples

A set of measures that includes the treatment of sore nipples must also include prevention. Sometimes it is enough to replace synthetic underwear with cotton ones or give up soap that irritates the skin, and the symptoms of sore nipples quickly go away.

Pain in the nipples during feeding is to combat cracks, for which doctors recommend external products that moisturize and soften the skin, as well as promote its regeneration, for example, Panthenol ointment with vitamin B5 and lanolin (trade names - Dexpanthenol, Pantoderm, Panthenol); Actovegin gel or ointment, etc.

Medicines for dermatological diseases that cause pain in the nipple area are prescribed by a dermatologist: for eczema, these are solutions of silver nitrate, zinc sulfate or resorcinol (for treating nipples), as well as ointments with corticosteroids Dexamethasone, Fluorocort, Trimistan, Sinalar, etc. For streptoderma or folliculitis, you need ointments with antibiotics - Levomekol, Methyluracil, synthomycin emulsion, etc. And in the fight against the Candida fungus, ointments with nystatin (Nystatin, Mycostatin) or imidazole (Clotrimazole, Mycosporin, Funginal, etc.) help.