Almost every woman feels pain in breast at one point of their lives. It is quite common and it usually occurs before a period. However, the pain is not directly connected to periods and there can be pain in breast for other reasons. Usually the pain is in mild form but sometimes it can become severe and interfere with daily activities. Physicians usually prescribe painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs which can be rubbed on.
There are two general forms of breast pain. They are cyclical breast pain and noncyclical breast pain. Cyclical breast pain is basically pain in breast which is related to periods. Generally it appears in the second half of the monthly cycle and becomes aggressive in the days leading to a period. When the pain is not related to periods, it is classified as noncyclical breast pain. Seventy percent of women develop breast pain at some part of their life. In most of these cases the pain is cyclical breast pain. To identify the type of pain you are suffering from, you should keep a pain diary to help study the patterns. The more time you keep this diary the more accurate the analysis will be. Two to three months of data is good enough. In the diary you should specify the days you have felt the pain. Days where the pain was immeasurable and interfered with your daily activities should be marked with a different sign or color. Cyclical breast pain can appear at any age. Those who suffer from cyclical breast pain are usually from thirty to fifty years old. Since it is related to periods, women who are past the menopause stage do not experience them as they no longer have periods.
Cyclical breast pains are usually of mild form. It is more of a discomfort than actual pain and most women can easily wait out the mild forms. Few women suffer from severe pain for about two weeks before a period. The last three to five days are unbearable. When the period starts the pain eases out. The severity of the pain can vary from month to month. Cyclical breast pain involves pain in both breasts. Pain is more felt in the upper and outer part of the breast. In severe form it can spread to inner parts and upper arm region. Pain in breast can make the breast appear more lumpy and swollen than usual. This does not mean that there is a single lump forming. This condition is also improved as soon as the period is started. Professionals believe that women who develop cyclical breast pain have more sensitive breast tissues than others. Sensitive tissues are affected by hormonal changes that take place every month. Cyclical breast pain is not a hormonal disease and it does not indicate that there is a problem with the breast. To treat cyclical breast pain you should consult a qualified physician when you suspect your condition has worsened. Pain in breast is usually not a serious issue but you should not ignore it for too long.