11 Common Causes of Breast Pain

Most women will experience breast pain at some point in their life. Breast pain isn’t only bothersome, it can also be scary. It’s normal to be concerned that breast pain could be a sign of something serious. But here’s the good news: Usually it’s nothing to worry about.

Breast pain, also called “mastalgia,” has many causes. Most commonly, breast pain is related to hormonal fluctuations — such as with the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, nursing, or menopause. It can also be related to medication side effects. Even muscular strain that’s unrelated to breast tissue can cause it. In rare cases, breast pain can be a sign of breast cancer, and there are some specific warning signs to look out for.

Here we’ll run through the main causes of breast pain, including how to tell the difference between different causes and what you can do about it. 

Promotional Disclosureinfo_outlined

SPECIAL OFFER

In need of menopause symptom relief?

Get Premarin for over 55% less than the average retail price with GoodRx.

Save on Premarin

1. Menstrual periods

Many people experience breast pain with the normal ebb and flow of hormones that are associated with menstrual cycles. People commonly feel menstrual breast pain in both breasts, in the days leading up to a period.

There may be some steps you can take at home to help with your menstrual breast pain. These may include:

• Wearing a supportive bra

• Avoiding too much caffeine 

• Following a low-fat diet 

• Taking over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)

• Putting warm or cool compresses on your breasts

• Using birth control pills or other forms of contraception 

2. Fibrocystic breast disease

Fibrocystic breast disease is when fluid-filled cysts and fibrous tissue cause thickening or lumpiness in one or both breasts. The cysts can change with fluctuating hormone levels and can lead to cyclical pain and lumpy swelling, especially before your periods. Your healthcare provider may confirm this with a physical exam or scan (such as an ultrasound). Sometimes cysts can get larger and need a surgical procedure to drain or biopsy them.

Relief for fibrocystic breast pain is similar to that for breast pain related to menstruation. Measures include OTC pain relievers, warm or cool compresses, and good breast support. Also helpful are dietary changes, like a low-fat diet, and sometimes birth control.  

3. Medications

Many hormonal medications can cause breast pain. Birth control pills are common culprits (though these can also help treat breast pain). Other hormonal treatments can cause breast pain as well, such as fertility treatments, hormone replacement therapy in menopause, or gender-affirming hormone therapy in transgender people.

Read more like this

Explore these related articles, suggested for readers like you.

What Are the Symptoms of Breast Cancer?

What Does a Breast Cancer Lump Feel Like?

Understanding the Risk of Breast Cancer in Black Women and Why Death Rates Are Much Higher

How Much Does a Cosmetic Breast Lift Cost?

View more

Talk with your healthcare provider if you notice your breast pain started after beginning a medication. You may be able to manage it with OTC pain relievers or other supportive treatments. But sometimes you’ll need to make medication adjustments or have a provider look into the cause of your breast pain.

4. Mastitis (infections)

Mastitis is when breasts get infected. This most commonly happens during breastfeeding when a milk duct gets clogged and infected. But it can also happen at other times. You may notice one breast has a wedge-shaped area of pain, redness, and warmth. You may also develop fevers, chills, or other flu-like symptoms.

It’s very important to see your healthcare provider if you develop symptoms of an infection and an area of pain, redness, or warmth on the breast. Treatment for mastitis involves emptying the milk from the breast, pain medication, and sometimes antibiotics. If the infection develops into an abscess, it will need a surgical procedure to drain it.

5. Muscle strain

Sometimes breast pain isn’t actually from the breast itself. Muscular injuries can happen in and around the muscles in the chest wall. This can happen after trauma — such as a fall, car accident, or sometimes simply from coughing or sneezing. There may also be radiating pain from the spine or neck.

Muscular pain is often positional, meaning it will get worse with certain movements or positions. It may also be tender to the touch, so if you push on parts of your chest wall you can reproduce the pain. The best treatment for this type of pain usually includes rest, avoiding movements that cause pain, and OTC pain medications (NSAIDs). 

6. Pregnancy

The hormonal changes of pregnancy increase blood flow to the breasts and make them grow. This often leads to sore breasts and sensitive nipples. In fact, sometimes this can be one of the first signs of pregnancy.

Breast pain in pregnancy may improve as the pregnancy progresses. But there can be other causes of breast pain related to milk production and nursing. You can wear a supportive bra and loose clothing to ease breast pain during pregnancy. Warm showers and cold compresses to the breast area may also help. It’s always a good idea to review breast pain with your OB-GYN —  you may need more workup if you have certain symptoms (such as a breast lump or skin changes on the breast).

7. Breastfeeding

Nursing can lead to painful breasts for several reasons. As milk is produced and collects in the ducts, breasts can become engorged — causing discomfort such as tightness and pain. You may also have pain from your baby’s latch on the nipple. Milk ducts can also get plugged, which causes localized swelling and pain.

To ease the pain from nursing, it’s helpful to first check your baby’s latch on the nipple. A lactation consultant can help with positioning or evaluate the baby for tongue-tie (which can make it difficult for the baby to get a good latch). It’s important to continue nursing or pumping in order to help relieve engorgement. Cool compresses on the breasts and warm showers can help. You can also take medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) to help with the pain.

8. Poor-fitting bra

Sometimes the cause of breast pain can be as simple as a bra that is too tight or just doesn’t fit right. Ill-fitting bras can compress parts of the breast. And underwiring can cause irritation. Your bra could also be too loose and not provide enough support, which can stretch ligaments and cause pain.

If this is the cause of your breast pain, you can try wearing a different bra — such as one without underwire. You could also try a sports bra to see if that provides better support. Bra size can change over time, so you may want to try different sizes or adjust the straps.

9. Breast implants

Breast pain can come from complications related to breast implants — such as scar tissue, implant movement, or even rupture. Some people may also feel vague symptoms like fatigue or joint pain.

If you think your breast pain might be related to breast implants, talk with your healthcare provider. Sometimes removing the implant can improve breast pain and related symptoms. Again, if you notice any breast changes like a lump or overlying skin changes, it’s best to see your healthcare provider sooner than later. 

10. Menopause

Menopause — and the time leading up to menopause (perimenopause) — leads to many changes in the body, including changes in the main reproductive hormones: estrogen and progesterone. This can lead to breast pain and tenderness. Likewise, menopausal hormone replacement therapy can also cause breast pain.

While breast pain and changes can be common during perimenopause or menopause, you should still discuss these changes with your provider. They will do an evaluation to make sure there isn’t something else going on. This is especially true if you notice a breast lump, skin changes, nipple discharge, or swelling in your armpit. 

11. Breast cancer

While rare, it’s important to note that sometimes breast cancer can present with pain. This is usually with larger cancers or inflammatory breast cancer that causes a quickly growing area of redness and tenderness. But even some small breast cancers can cause pain. So if you’re worried — and especially if there’s no other good reason for your breast pain — it’s always safer to get checked out.  

When should you worry about breast pain?

You should talk with your healthcare provider about any new breast pain. Most of the time it isn’t anything to worry about. But every now and then, it might be a cause for concern. Connecting with your doctor is also a chance to check in on your overall breast health — including talking about what breast cancer screening options might be right for you.

There are some concerning symptoms that can mean it’s time to make an appointment sooner rather than later. These include:

• A breast lump

• Breast pain that wakes you up at night

• Breast pain that lasts longer than a few weeks

• Breast pain that is changing, moving, or getting worse

• Breast pain that gets in the way of you living your life

• Skin changes along with pain, such as redness, swelling, or changes in skin color

• Nipple discharge

• Swollen lymph nodes in the armpit

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Christina Palmer, MD

Christina Palmer, MD, is a board-certified family physician with a special interest in chronic care management, women’s health, mental health, and preventive care. She has over 10 years of experience in primary care research, innovation, and practice.

Edited by:

Sophie Vergnaud, MD

Sophie Vergnaud, MD, is the Senior Medical Director for GoodRx Health. An experienced and dedicated pulmonologist and hospitalist, she spent a decade practicing and teaching clinical medicine at academic hospitals throughout London before transitioning to a career in health education and health technology.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts