Chest Pain And Menstrual Cycle

Mastalgia is defined as chest pain. Unfortunately, many women experience it, especially during premenstrual syndrome. Menstruation is affected by many different factors. In fact, there is a relationship between chest pain and the menstrual cycle.

It is common in young women and disappears with menopause. About 70% of all women have experienced it at some point in their lives. Learn more about this common symptom during menstruation.

What is the relationship between chest pain and the menstrual cycle?

The menstrual cycle is no more than a process performed by the innumerable hormones that determine how and when the cycle should take place. In this sense, mastalgia is one of the most common symptoms in the various stages of the menstrual cycle.

It usually appears during the second half of the cycle (after ovulation, known as the luteal phase) and disappears at the beginning of the menstrual period. During the menstrual cycle, the following hormonal changes occur:

• Estrogen levels are peaked during ovulation. This causes a growth of the milk ducts.
• Progesterone reaches its peak a few days later (day 21). This leads to an enlargement of the mammary glands, which helps the cells that are prepared for milk production.

To better understand, the hormonal changes that occur in this phase cause inflammation, swelling and enlarged breasts, which are often painful. If the woman becomes pregnant (which will keep her progesterone levels high), they will remain swollen.

Biologically, the breasts have a larger number of receptors for these substances, making them hormone-dependent glands. The breasts respond to hormones much more than the rest of the body.

Chest pain and menstrual cycle: Causes

Chest pain is mainly related to premenstrual syndrome (the week before menstruation) or benign changes in the breasts (for example, fibroadenomatosis). Although these are the most common causes, there are also some risk factors, such as:

• To follow a diet rich in fat
• To consume too much caffeine, tea or chocolate
• A family history of chest pain during the menstrual cycle

• Certain medications (hormones, antidepressants, etc.)
• Large breast size (increases weight load and may be accompanied by back or neck pain)

Chest pain does not have to be a sign of breast cancer. Only 10% of cases of malignant breast tumors cause mild pain.

Symptoms

There is a difference between breast symptoms related to the menstrual cycle and those that do not develop due to cyclical processes.

Chest pain and menstrual cycle (cyclical)

Chest symptoms affected by the menstrual cycle are the most common cause of chest pain and are known as premenstrual syndrome. As we have already mentioned in this article, the hormonal changes that are characterized by the following are due to:

• They affect young women

• As a general rule, they do not occur during or after menopause
• Homogeneous and bilateral distribution (in other words, both breasts hurt and the pain extends through the mammary gland)
• Swelling or inflammation
• Fluid retention or retention in the breasts
• Slight increase in breast size
• Turgor (bulging and firm breasts)
• Continuous pain (which can range from mild to severe) only during one step of the cycle
• When touched, you feel small lumps all over your chest
• The symptoms become more intense two weeks before menstruation
• Eventually, the pain disappears after menstruation begins

Non-cyclic chest pain

Unlike cyclical pain, other causes can lead to chest symptoms. One of them is usually trauma or benign diseases, such as those we mentioned above. The typical symptoms of non-cyclic chest pain (uncommon) include the following:

• Continuous or intermittent pain, fixed at one point, described as burning, stinging or cracking.
• Inflammation at a specific point of the chest.
• The symptoms do not vary over time or throughout the menstrual cycle.
• They occur to a greater extent after menopause.
• It is usually unilateral (only one breast hurts).

Chest pain and the menstrual cycle: When should you consult a healthcare professional?

In general, all non-cyclic causes should be investigated. Therefore, we recommend that you consult a doctor or gynecologist if you suffer from any of them. In addition, you need to be more alert if you present with any of the following symptoms:

• Changes in the shape, color or appearance of the breast skin
• Secretions or fluid from the breasts
• Hormonal changes
• New, unusual or changing lumps or bumps on the breasts
• To be over 40 and not have had a mammogram
• Pain that does not subside and increases in intensity
• Signs of infection (heat, redness, pus, etc.)
• Pain that interferes with everyday activities

In short, chest pain is usually associated with the menstrual cycle and the hormonal changes that occur during it. In rare cases, however, it is a warning of a serious problem. Still, you need to be careful, especially if the pain is prolonged and severe.