But chances are slim that breast pain is breast cancer. There are two types of breast pain: Cyclical pain is associated with your period and most often affects both breasts. It can affect one or both breasts, all of the breast, or just part of it. Most breast pain goes away on its own or can be easily treated.
During your menstrual period, estrogen and progesterone, the female reproductive hormones, are hard at work. Estrogen springs into action before a woman ovulates and progesterone levels rise around the time of ovulation. Progesterone causes water retention as it prepares the uterus for a possible pregnancy. This fluid can make your breasts sore and tender. The extra water weight stretches your breast tissue and this can be painful.
Please understand that our phone lines must be clear for urgent medical care needs. When this changes, we will update this web site. Please know that our vaccine supply is extremely small. Pamela Ann Wright, M. Most women experience some form of breast pain at one time or another.
Back to Health A to Z. There are many reasons breasts can be painful. Breast pain by itself is unlikely to be a symptom of cancer. There's little evidence that vitamin E tablets or evening primrose oil help with breast pain. Once the menopause is over you've had 12 months without a period , the pain should not return.