Breast Tenderness
Breast pain and tenderness occur at different stages of a woman’s life. It is closely associated with hormonal changes before menstruation. However, women also report breast tenderness in their perimenopausal years. In both cases, the estrogen levels decrease naturally.
Breast tenderness associated with perimenopause will feel slightly different from the soreness women may have felt during their earlier years. Menstrual breast tenderness is typically dull in both breasts. Menstruation-related breast tenderness happens right before a woman has her period. On the other hand, breast tenderness during perimenopause is characterized by burning pain and soreness. It can happen in one or both breasts. In some cases, perimenopausal women report a sharp, stabbing, or throbbing pain in their breasts.
Perimenopausal women must visit their doctor for persistent breast pain. If breast tenderness is coupled with redness, discharge, or an increase in breast size, these may be signs of a more serious medical condition. Proper diagnosis is crucial to ensure the right treatment is prescribed for breast tenderness. The most common breast pain treatments include over-the-counter pain medications, vitamins B and E supplementation, Omega-3 fatty acids, and the application of primrose oil.
