Discomfort in the area of the mammary glands often worries women. This symptom is usually found in women of reproductive age. During menopause, it usually does not occur. Unpleasant sensations affect both one mammary gland, and both. Discomfort may be temporary or permanent. Often, he forces a woman to take analgesics for several weeks. Today, many are interested in the question of why the chest hurts on the side, and what measures should be taken when a symptom occurs.
Features of discomfort in the mammary glands
Discomfort is divided into two types. The first variety is called cyclic. It is associated with critical days, appears shortly before them.
Such discomfort is characterized by the following characteristics:
- It feels like aching pain.
- It is accompanied by inflammation.
- In the area of the mammary glands, seals are formed.
- Discomfort is felt not only in the chest, but also under the armpits.
- It is localized in the region of both organs.
- Most often, a similar phenomenon is encountered by patients aged twenty to forty years.
The non-cyclic type of discomfort has the following features:
- It does not depend on menstruation.
- It manifests itself as a feeling of squeezing and burning.
- It is usually localized in only one gland fragment (left or right).
- Often found during menopause.
Often the reason that a woman has a chest pain from the side is a change in the concentration of certain substances in the body. This is typical for the fairer sex who are of reproductive age. As a rule, discomfort is associated with critical days or the period of gestation.
Cyclic pain
This phenomenon is called "mastalgia." It occurs a few days before the onset of monthly bleeding. Such discomfort is mild. He does not interfere with the usual way of life. With this condition, the chest often hurts on the side, and there is a feeling of swelling, the sensitivity of the glands increases. Organ tissues become swollen. As a rule, everything goes away with the onset of monthly bleeding. In the case when the unpleasant sensations are pronounced, do not disappear after the end of critical days, a woman needs to pay attention to her state of health. This phenomenon may indicate the development of the disease.
Non-cyclic discomfort
Such unpleasant sensations occur irregularly. As a rule, they are associated with the presence of pathology. Often in such situations, chest pains on the side on one side. This type of discomfort includes discomfort that occurs during gestation and lactation.
The reproductive system undergoes serious changes at this time. They affect the condition of the mammary glands. The breast begins to swell, its volume increases. The body is preparing for the production of milk. Many women are concerned about when breasts start to hurt during pregnancy. Indeed, discomfort in the area of the mammary glands is one of the symptoms that indicate the birth of a new life.
Unpleasant sensations during gestation
After conception, the girl’s body undergoes restructuring, which consists in increasing the concentration of female hormones. These substances affect the mammary glands. As a result of such processes, the breast tissue swells. Shortly before delivery, colostrum expires. When does the breast start to hurt during pregnancy? From the first day after conception, the sensitivity of the glands increases. The woman feels discomfort. In this regard, such sensations are considered probable symptoms of a pregnancy. Moreover, the discomfort can have a different intensity: from a mild burning sensation in the area of the nipples, to aching pains that are given to the shoulder blades and lumbar spine. Typically, these phenomena disappear by the end of the first trimester.
From the twentieth week, the glands are preparing for the production of milk. The expectant mother again feels discomfort.
Breast increases in volume, tingling, swelling occurs. Such pain should not be too strong. If there is severe discomfort, a woman should consult a specialist.
Unpleasant sensations with a negative pregnancy test result
Pain is not always indicative of conception. Sometimes discomfort in the mammary glands and delay of critical days are observed in the absence of pregnancy.
But even a negative test result does not guarantee that fertilization has not occurred. After all, sometimes the device may be of poor quality, or a woman uses it incorrectly. To make sure that conception has not occurred, you need to visit a doctor. If there is a delay, chest pain, negative tests, what pathologies does this phenomenon indicate? As probable reasons, experts call:
- ICP.
- Intrauterine death of the embryo.
- Tubal pregnancy.
- Increased prolactin concentration.
Premenstrual syndrome
Women of reproductive age often confuse this phenomenon with early gestation. And this is not surprising. After all, the symptoms of PMS resemble signs of conception. Discomfort in the mammary gland during premenstrual syndrome is accompanied by other manifestations:
- breast enlargement;
- swelling of the tissues;
- discomfort in the lower part of the peritoneum and lower back;
- nervousness
- increased need for sleep;
- fluctuations in appetite;
- emotional lability.
What to do if chest hurts during premenstrual syndrome? It is known that the well-being in this period largely depends on the woman’s lifestyle. Often, a full night's rest, regular walks and training, a balanced diet and refusal from addictions help reduce discomfort. In the absence of health problems, discomfort disappears after the end of critical days.
Mastopathy
This pathology is characterized by the appearance of fibrotic neoplasms and cysts in the area of the mammary glands. Patients with such an ailment constantly have chest pains. Discomfort does not depend on the cycle of menstruation. Its cause is hormonal imbalance. Such a malfunction can occur against the background of adverse circumstances: artificial termination of the pregnancy process, infections or inflammations in the reproductive organs, disturbances in the activity of the liver or thyroid gland.
In women who abruptly stop lactation or have irregular intimate contacts, mastopathy is often detected. The disease develops over several years. It is accompanied not only by discomfort in the area of the mammary glands, but also by a feeling of nausea, dizziness, cramping in the peritoneum, and a decrease in appetite. And, although mastopathy refers to benign neoplasms, it needs long-term therapy and the supervision of a doctor.
Infectious processes
One of the common pathologies of this kind is mastitis. It occurs in women with poor immunity during lactation. Discomfort is accompanied by fever and fatigue. At the same time, chests on the sides are very sore. Unpleasant sensations are localized not only in the mammary glands, but also in the area of the shoulder blades, peritoneum, armpits.
They have a piercing character. Pathology requires an urgent appeal to a medical institution. In severe cases, surgical intervention is required.
Malignant neoplasm
A cancerous tumor is a common ailment characterized by the formation of abnormal cells in the mammary gland. Often the first stages of the disease proceed unnoticed. And only in the later stages does a woman discover the pronounced symptoms of oncology. Therefore, any representative of the fairer sex should be attentive to any changes occurring in the mammary glands, and visit the doctor on time if there are concerns.
In the case of cancer, patients have chest pains on the side. The skin in the area of the organ begins to peel off, become like an orange peel. The shape of the nipple changes, and blood or a colorless liquid is released from it. If such phenomena are not associated with the period of gestation, a woman should immediately consult a specialist.
Discomfort in the chest area to the right
In some cases, unpleasant sensations arise not on both sides, but on one. With what it can be connected? The reasons why it hurts in the right side in the chest are often such conditions:
- Mechanical damage.
- Exacerbation of gastrointestinal ailments.
- Myocardial pathology.
With such diseases, patients feel discomfort in the cervical spine, in the right hand:
- Nervous Disorders.
- Respiratory ailments.
- Pathology of the right kidney.
Accurately determine the cause of the symptom only after examination.
Other conditions that cause discomfort
Unpleasant sensations in the chest can occur under the influence of such factors:
- Artificial interruption of fetal life.
- The use of drugs containing hormones.
- A large volume of mammary glands.
- Wearing uncomfortable, tight underwear.
- Neuralgia and osteochondrosis. These diseases can be an explanation of why chest muscles hurt.
- Shingles of the type of shingles.
- The use of drugs to protect against unwanted conception.
Necessary measures
So what to do if your chest hurts? You need to see a doctor. The doctor will determine the cause of the discomfort and select the therapy. How to prevent discomfort and reduce their intensity? To do this, adhere to these tips:
- Avoid abortion.
- Have regular intimate contacts.
- Do not give up lactation.
- Wear comfortable underwear.
- Avoid stressful situations.
- Eat right, give up addiction.
- Examine regularly.