Mastalgia(Breast Pain)
by
Cynthia M. Johnson, MA DefinitionMastalgia is breast pain. There are two types:
Causes TOPIn some people, the cause is unknown. The pain can be caused by:
Risk Factors TOPFactors that may raise your chance of this pain:
Symptoms TOPThe main symptom is pain in the breast area. Pain may be mild or severe. It may be in both breasts or just one. It may be painful only in one spot or all over. When Should I Call My Doctor?Call your doctor right away if you have any signs of infection, such as redness, tenderness, fever, or chills. Call your doctor if you notice any other changes in your breasts, such as:
Call your doctor if your pain lasts, gets in the way of your daily routine, or is in one area of your breast. Diagnosis TOPYour doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done. The diagnosis is most often based on a review of pain patterns and the exam. Your doctor may order further testing to look for any suspicious changes. You may have:
Treatment TOPTalk with your doctor about the best plan for you. Treatment will be based on what is causing your pain. You may have: MedicationsTopical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may ease pain. Other medicines may be prescribed to help ease cyclical mastalgia. If you are taking hormones, such as estrogen or progesterone, your doctor may make changes to your medicines to reduce pain. Other TreatmentsYour doctor may suggest some changes depending on the cause of your pain. You may be advised to:
Prevention TOPMastalgia can’t be prevented. RESOURCES:The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists http://www.acog.org Office on Women's Health—US Department of Health and Human Services http://www.womenshealth.gov CANADIAN RESOURCES:The Canadian Women's Health Network http://www.cwhn.ca The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) http://sogc.org References:
Mastalgia. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:
http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T115072/Mastalgia
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Updated April 24, 2017. Accessed July 24, 2018.
Morrow M. The evaluation of common breast problems.
Am Fam Physician. 2000;61(8):2371-2378. Rosolowich V, Saettler E, Szuck B, et al. Mastalgia.
J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2006;28(1):49-71. Last reviewed May 2018 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board
Kathleen A. Barry, MD Last Updated: 7/24/2018 |
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