Breast pain

Alternative names:

breast tenderness; mastalgia; mastodynia; pain in the breast

Home care:

Wear a well-fitting brassiere for support, especially for large breasts. A monthly breast self-examination is important. Follow prescribed therapy to treat the underlying cause.

For mastitis, avoid caffeine and try vitamin E supplements and a diet low in fat and high in carbohydrates.

An injury to the breast surface that shows evidence of infection should be treated with antibiotics.

Call your health care provider if:

• there is any abnormal discharge from the nipples.
• there is prolonged, unexplained breast pain.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

A history will be obtained and a breast examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting breast pain in detail include:

• Are both breasts affected?
• Is there any nipple discharge?
• Do you perform breast self-examination?
• Have you noticed any lumps or anything unusual when you examine your breasts?
• What other symptoms are also present? Is there fever?

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

• breast biopsy
• culture of body fluids
• cytology (cell studies) of nipple discharge
• mammography
• thermography (similar to mammogram)

Intervention:
Analgesics may be prescribed.

After seeing your health care provider:
If a diagnosis was made by your health care provider as to the cause of breast pain, you may want to note that diagnosis in your personal medical record.