Do your breasts feel tender? A gynaecologist reveals all the reasons why

If you find that your breasts are sore, achy and it pains when you touch, then ladies, your breasts are tender. The good news, however, is that there’s nothing to worry about.

Breast tenderness is very common and you’re not alone in this. It affects all women at some point in their lives. The intensity varies from woman to woman, from aches and sharp pains to a burning sensation and discomfort.

To understand why women go through this phase and when is it important to see a doctor, we got gynaecologist Dr. Uma Vaidyanathan, senior consultant, obstetrics and gynaecology at Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh to enlighten us about the topic.

Here are a few reasons she listed out:

1. Your periods are on their way
Dr. Vaidyanathan says that most women experience tenderness in their breasts a week or ten days before their periods. When our body is ovulating, the hormones estrogen and progesterone cause changes in our body which lead to soreness and tenderness in the breasts.

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2. You have a hormonal imbalance
The imbalances could be because of many reasons. One of the most common reasons is your thyroid gland going into overdrive and producing the hormones in excess. It messes with the production of estrogen and progesterone, making your breasts tender.

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3. You wear poorly-fitted bras
If your bra is digging into your skin or your breasts happen to be spilling out of the cup, then you are wearing the wrong size. Wearing a bra that isn’t your size puts pressure on the breasts which can be the reason behind the tenderness.

4. You might be pregnant
Usually, in the first week of pregnancy, your body goes through a lot of hormonal changes which can cause tenderness in the breasts. If the pain is unbearable, you should talk to your gynaecologist at the earliest.

5. You’re stressed
Dr. Vaidyanathan says, “Stressors do play an important role in our menstrual cycle. If you allow it to affect you, the hormones in your body can create havoc which will lead to menses related issues.” Taking too much stress can also make your breasts tender because, in the end, it’s because of the hormones.

6. It’s because of fibrocystic tissue
The hormonal changes in your body can affect the breast tissue causing changes in the breast texture, lump, or tenderness. Fibrocystic breasts are common and aren’t dangerous but if you find any new changes consulting a doctor is a good idea.

So what can you do?
Dr. Vaidyanathan suggests consuming plenty of water along with some modifications in the lifestyle such as switching to a healthier diet, working out more and saying no to junk food. All these can help you manage your hormones better which are the actual culprits of tender breasts.

Also, read: This snippety guide will help you improve your relationship with your breasts

Other things that you can do:

• Reduce your salt intake during the ovulation time or 10 days before your period starts.
• Take vitamin E supplements or evening primrose oil but do consult your doctor before doing so.
• Wear the right size of bra and give proper support to your breasts while you’re exercising.

…But don’t forget
If the pain is so bad that it’s affecting your daily work or the pain and swelling are not getting better, then you need to see a doctor as soon as you can.