• Cyclic pain

  This is the most prevalent form of breast pain that occurs due to regular monthly fluctuations in the hormones. The pain is generally felt in both the breasts and is usually expressed as feeling heavy or sore, the sensation radiating to the underarm and arm area. The pain is generally felt quite severely prior to a menstrual period and is mostly allayed once the period concludes. Younger aged women tend to frequently experience this kind of cyclic pain. Majority of the cyclic pain generally subsides with no need for treatment and generally disappear when the woman turns menopausal.

• Noncyclic pain

  This is prevalent among women in the ages of thirty to fifty years. It might be felt in just one breast and is mostly illustrated as a prickly, burning pain sensation that is felt in one part of the breast. Seldom noncyclic pain could occur due to fibroadenoma or due to a cyst. In case the reasons leading to noncyclic pain could be recognised then the pertinent treatment could help in assuaging the pain.

There could be deterioration in the intensity of breast pain due to hormonal fluctuations or a switch in medications consumed. Stress could additionally have an effect on breast pain. One is more prone to experiencing breast pain prior to menopause as compared to after turning menopausal.

Treating Breast Pain

One could assuage breast pain by the use of non-prescription medications that comprise of:

• Acetaminophen like Tylenol or Panadol.
• NSAIDs (Non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn) or aspirin (Anacin, Bayer).

It is imperative to adhere to what is advised on the labels and instructions on the pack. In case one is attempting pregnancy or is expecting a child then it is important to firstly seek medical opinion prior to using any medicine. Those women below twenty years of age must not take aspirin as it raises the risk of developing Reye’s syndrome.

Acute cyclic breast pain could be treated using prescription medications like Danazol, bromocriptine and tamoxifen citrate. Such medicines are however seldom taken due to their considerable side effects. Yet, it is vital to ascertain if the advantages would be outweighing the risks in order to take such medicines.

Breast pain could be relieved by:

• The use of oral contraceptive pills that could assist in reducing cyclic breast pain and breast swelling prior to periods. However, breast pain is additionally an identified side effect of oral contraceptive pills.
• Intake of magnesium supplements during the latter half of one’s menstrual cycle (generally fourteen days prior to the subsequent period) could allay breast pain along with several other PMS or pre-menstrual syndrome signs.
• Lowering the intake of dietetic fat to fifteen percent or less of one’s dietetic intake would help to lower breast pain over a span of time. A small-scaled study has revealed that when one follows this dietetic amendment for lifelong then it immensely lowers breast pain.
• Researchers have not yet revealed any association between caffeine and breast pain though few women reported decreased breast pain when they lowered the quantity of caffeine intake.

Prevention:

A sports bra worn during exercise could help in averting pain, tenderness and discomforting sensation in the breasts. The bra must be able to maintain the breast in a near unmoving position and facilitate their movement together with the chest and not individually. It is imperative to buy a new sports bra as the fabric is stretchable and has a tendency of becoming less supportive. A woman whose breasts are developing must go in for a new bra twice in a year.

• Endometriosis – When the tissues in the uterine lining starts developing outside it.
• Uterine fibroids –When tumors and growths of non-cancerous origin start developing on the uterine wall.
• Adenomyosis – When the tissues lining the uterus start growing into the muscular uterus walls.
• PID or Pelvic Inflammatory disease – A bacterium-induced STD or sexually transmitted disease.
• Cervical stenosis – the cervical opening is small that obstructs the menstrual flow.

Menstrual Cramps Symptoms:

• Dulling, spasmodic, sharp pain felt in the lower abdomen.
• Lower back pain that extends to the thigh region.
• Nauseous feeling.
• Vomiting.
• Sweating.
• Giddiness.
• Watery stools, diarrhoea.
• Constipation.
• Distended feeling in the belly region.
• Headaches.
• Unsteadiness or a sense of fainting.

Diagnosis & Tests:

Majority of women are able to decipher menstrual cramps without any physician assistance. When severe pain is felt or there are certain underlying contributors to the pain, the doctor would recommend scanning for images of the abdomen, uterus, cervix, vagina and fallopian tubes. The scanning procedures include ultrasound, CT or computerised tomography scan, MRI scan or Magnetic Resonance Imaging, hysteroscopy and laparoscopy. These scanning procedures assist in detecting medical condition like endometriosis, adhesions, fibroids, ovarian cysts and ectopic pregnancy.

Menstrual Cramps Treatment:

• Over-the-counter medicines that are mostly anti-prostaglandin-based, aid in reducing uterine spasms, lighten the menstrual flow and allay aches. Several of these medicines additionally contain pain-relievers like ibuprofen or naproxen that are forms of NSAIDS or Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. NSAIDs when used singularly also assuage menstrual discomfort.
• At times, the doctor would advise the use of hormonal contraception pills. Such pills hinder ovulation and lower the severity of painful periods. A study has revealed that nearly 97 percent of doctors during the course of an opinion poll vouched for the continual usage of oral birth control treatment as a means of suppression of menstruation is deemed safe and suitable – despite several women being unaware of this fact.
• Scientists from the Imperial College of London have established that chamomile tea aids in relieving menstrual pains.
• A study has shown that the course of Chinese herbal medicines have been proven to be helpful to menstruating women.
• When underlying medical conditions like endometriosis or fibroids are the reasons behind menstrual cramps, then surgical intervention would be necessary for the removal of anomalous tissue. Though surgery might aid in lowering the extent of menstrual cramps, it had other risk elements.
• Adjunct treatments have been recommended in relieving menstrual cramps like hot baths, usage of heated padding on the lower portion of the abdomen, sex, yoga, meditating, massage therapy, acupuncture, TENS or Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and having supplements like vitamin E, thiamine and omega-3. Women ailing from menstrual cramps must get proper rest and sleep alongside exercising regularly.

Prevention:

One might be able to avert menstrual cramps. Suggested pre-emptive guidelines include:

• Including the regular intake of fresh fruits, vegetables and restricting the consumption of fatty items, alcohol, caffeine, sodium and sweets.
• Regular exercise.
• Lowering stress.
• Smoking cessation.
• Yoga or repose therapy.
• Acupuncture or acupressure.