Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisBreast Cancer RiskTreatmentWhen to See a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Breast Cancer Risk
Treatment
When to See a Provider
Mastalgia(breast pain) is most commonly linked to normal changes in the breasts during the menstrual cycle. However, other causes of mastalgia may include infection or disease ranging from abenign cysttobreast cancer.Even males can experience breast pain.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
What Is Mastalgia?
Mastalgia refers to breast pain. The symptoms of mastalgia depend on what is causing it. Common symptoms include:
Some people have mild pain while others have severe pain. The length of time mastalgia lasts also depends on the underlying cause. The pain can be constant or only happen occasionally.
Around 60–70% of females experience mastalgia at some point in their lives.
Types and Causes of Mastalgia
In some cases, pain may be felt in the breast area but originates from elsewhere in the body. This type of pain is calledextramammary mastalgia.
Cyclic Mastalgia
Cyclic mastalgiais breast pain related to themenstrual cycle. The hormone changes throughout the month alter how the breasts look and feel.
The pain is often described as a dull, heavy ache in both breasts, although one may be affected more than the other. Usually, the pain is generalized and not felt in a specific spot. The pain may also extend to the armpits.
Cyclic mastalgia is usually worse just before a person’s cycle begins. The pain gets better on the first day of a person’s period and gradually goes away in the next few days.
Since this type of pain is linked to menstruation, people who have not gone through menopause yet are the most likely to have it. Cyclical breast pain can also be related tobirth control pillsorhormone replacement therapy (HRT).
Some people have a condition calledfibrocystic breasts. This a common condition in which your breast may feel lumpy, swollen, or sore right before your period. It is not a disease but rather normal changes in the consistency of the breasts that occur in some people during the menstrual cycle.
Noncyclic Mastalgia
Noncyclic mastalgia is breast pain that is not related to the menstrual cycle and doesn’t vary with hormone changes throughout the month.
The pain can be sharp or burning. It is often felt in just one breast as well as in a specific part of the breast. Noncyclic mastalgia is sometimes called “trigger zone” breast pain because a person can easily point to where the pain is.
Breast pain in people who have gone through menopause is usually noncyclic. This type of breast pain is most common in people between the ages of 30 and 50.
Extramammary Mastalgia
Extramammary breast pain feels like it is located in the breast area, but it is actually originating from somewhere “outside” the breast.
What Is the Main Cause of Mastalgia?Breast pain is most commonly linked to natural hormonal changes—such as those that occur during the normal menstrual cycle or pregnancy.
What Is the Main Cause of Mastalgia?
Breast pain is most commonly linked to natural hormonal changes—such as those that occur during the normal menstrual cycle or pregnancy.
How Is Mastalgia Diagnosed?
A diagnosis of mastalgia is usually made based on a person’s symptoms. A healthcare provider can also touch the breasts andfeel for changes in the tissue.
Sometimes,breast imaging testsare needed. If a provider notices something that is not normal when they look at and feel the breasts, having pictures of the inside of the breast can help them figure out what it is.
Mastalgia and Risk of Cancer
Breast cancer does not usually cause pain. The chance of mastalgia being a symptom of breast cancer is very low. However, breast pain can be a symptom of cancer in some cases.
Based on current statistics, 12.9% of women born in the United States today will develop breast cancer at some time during their lives.
The risks are greater for females who:Are over 50Have a family history of breast orovarian cancerHave dense breastsStarted having periods before the age of 12Started menopause over the age of 55
The risks are greater for females who:
Other warning signs of breast cancer may include:
If you have breast pain or other symptoms, tell your healthcare provider. It’s also important to keep up with the recommendedscreenings—especially if you’re at risk for breast cancer.
How Do You Treat Breast Mastalgia?
The best way to treat mastalgia depends on what is causing it.
Home Remedies
People may try home remedies to fix mastalgia. The research is mixed on whether or not they are helpful. Consider trying them to see if they make your symptoms better.
Medications
Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers like Tylenol (acetaminophen) ornonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)like Advil (ibuprofen) may help reduce breast pain.
If taking OTC pain medicine isn’t enough, your healthcare provider may write you a prescription for a medication like Nolvadex (tamoxifen) and Danocrine (danazol). While they can treat breast pain, the medications have side effects.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Reach out to your healthcare provider if you experience breast pain that:
These red flags for mastalgia could indicate a more serious condition like cancer.
Summary
Mastalgia is common. Breast pain can be linked to a person’s menstrual cycle or not. It is very uncommon for breast pain to be a sign of cancer.
Once the cause of mastalgia has been found, there are several options for treatment. OTC pain relievers and lifestyle changes may help. If these treatments don’t work, prescription medications might be necessary.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Eren T, Aslan A, Ozemir IA, et al.Factors effecting mastalgia.Breast Care (Basel).2016;11(3):188-193. doi:10.1159/000444359UCHealth.Breast pain (mastalgia).Ali AA, Faraj FH.Clinicopathological profile of mastalgia in females: incidence, types, and pathological correlations. a cross-Sectional study.Annals of Medicine & Surgery. 2023;85(10):4764-4772. doi:10.1097/MS9.0000000000001159Breastcancer.org.Breast pain (mastalgia).Salzman B, Collins E, Hersh L.Common breast problems.Am Fam Physician. 2019;99(8):505-514.Hubbard TJ, Sharma A, Ferguson DJ.Breast pain: assessment, management, and referral criteria.Br J Gen Pract. 2020;70(697):419-420. doi:10.3399/bjgp20X712133National Cancer Institute.Breast cancer risk in American women.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Breast cancer risk factors.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of breast cancer.American Cancer Society.Breast cancer signs and symptoms.Jain BK, Bansal A, Choudhary D, Garg PK, Mohanty D.Centchroman vs tamoxifen for regression of mastalgia: A randomized controlled trial.Int J Surg.2015;15:11-16. doi:10.1016/j.ijsu.2014.12.033PennState Health News.The Medical Minute: Could that breast pain be cancer? When to get a mammogram.Additional ReadingGroen JW, Grosfeld S, Wilschut JA, Bramer WM, Ernst MF, Mullender MM.Cyclic and non-cyclic breast pain: A systematic review on pain reduction, side effects, and quality of life for various treatments.Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol.2017;219:74-93. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2017.10.018Scur J, Hedger W, Morris P, and Brown N.The prevalence, severity, and impact of breast pain in the general population.Breast J. 2014;20(5):508-513. doi:10.1111/tbj.12305Yıldırım AC, Yıldız P, Yıldız M, Kahramanca Ş, Kargıcı H.Mastalgia-cancer relationship: A prospective study.J Breast Health. 2015;11(2):88-91. doi:10.5152/tjbh.2015.2492
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Eren T, Aslan A, Ozemir IA, et al.Factors effecting mastalgia.Breast Care (Basel).2016;11(3):188-193. doi:10.1159/000444359UCHealth.Breast pain (mastalgia).Ali AA, Faraj FH.Clinicopathological profile of mastalgia in females: incidence, types, and pathological correlations. a cross-Sectional study.Annals of Medicine & Surgery. 2023;85(10):4764-4772. doi:10.1097/MS9.0000000000001159Breastcancer.org.Breast pain (mastalgia).Salzman B, Collins E, Hersh L.Common breast problems.Am Fam Physician. 2019;99(8):505-514.Hubbard TJ, Sharma A, Ferguson DJ.Breast pain: assessment, management, and referral criteria.Br J Gen Pract. 2020;70(697):419-420. doi:10.3399/bjgp20X712133National Cancer Institute.Breast cancer risk in American women.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Breast cancer risk factors.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of breast cancer.American Cancer Society.Breast cancer signs and symptoms.Jain BK, Bansal A, Choudhary D, Garg PK, Mohanty D.Centchroman vs tamoxifen for regression of mastalgia: A randomized controlled trial.Int J Surg.2015;15:11-16. doi:10.1016/j.ijsu.2014.12.033PennState Health News.The Medical Minute: Could that breast pain be cancer? When to get a mammogram.Additional ReadingGroen JW, Grosfeld S, Wilschut JA, Bramer WM, Ernst MF, Mullender MM.Cyclic and non-cyclic breast pain: A systematic review on pain reduction, side effects, and quality of life for various treatments.Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol.2017;219:74-93. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2017.10.018Scur J, Hedger W, Morris P, and Brown N.The prevalence, severity, and impact of breast pain in the general population.Breast J. 2014;20(5):508-513. doi:10.1111/tbj.12305Yıldırım AC, Yıldız P, Yıldız M, Kahramanca Ş, Kargıcı H.Mastalgia-cancer relationship: A prospective study.J Breast Health. 2015;11(2):88-91. doi:10.5152/tjbh.2015.2492
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Eren T, Aslan A, Ozemir IA, et al.Factors effecting mastalgia.Breast Care (Basel).2016;11(3):188-193. doi:10.1159/000444359UCHealth.Breast pain (mastalgia).Ali AA, Faraj FH.Clinicopathological profile of mastalgia in females: incidence, types, and pathological correlations. a cross-Sectional study.Annals of Medicine & Surgery. 2023;85(10):4764-4772. doi:10.1097/MS9.0000000000001159Breastcancer.org.Breast pain (mastalgia).Salzman B, Collins E, Hersh L.Common breast problems.Am Fam Physician. 2019;99(8):505-514.Hubbard TJ, Sharma A, Ferguson DJ.Breast pain: assessment, management, and referral criteria.Br J Gen Pract. 2020;70(697):419-420. doi:10.3399/bjgp20X712133National Cancer Institute.Breast cancer risk in American women.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Breast cancer risk factors.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of breast cancer.American Cancer Society.Breast cancer signs and symptoms.Jain BK, Bansal A, Choudhary D, Garg PK, Mohanty D.Centchroman vs tamoxifen for regression of mastalgia: A randomized controlled trial.Int J Surg.2015;15:11-16. doi:10.1016/j.ijsu.2014.12.033PennState Health News.The Medical Minute: Could that breast pain be cancer? When to get a mammogram.
Eren T, Aslan A, Ozemir IA, et al.Factors effecting mastalgia.Breast Care (Basel).2016;11(3):188-193. doi:10.1159/000444359
UCHealth.Breast pain (mastalgia).
Ali AA, Faraj FH.Clinicopathological profile of mastalgia in females: incidence, types, and pathological correlations. a cross-Sectional study.Annals of Medicine & Surgery. 2023;85(10):4764-4772. doi:10.1097/MS9.0000000000001159
Breastcancer.org.Breast pain (mastalgia).
Salzman B, Collins E, Hersh L.Common breast problems.Am Fam Physician. 2019;99(8):505-514.
Hubbard TJ, Sharma A, Ferguson DJ.Breast pain: assessment, management, and referral criteria.Br J Gen Pract. 2020;70(697):419-420. doi:10.3399/bjgp20X712133
National Cancer Institute.Breast cancer risk in American women.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Breast cancer risk factors.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of breast cancer.
American Cancer Society.Breast cancer signs and symptoms.
Jain BK, Bansal A, Choudhary D, Garg PK, Mohanty D.Centchroman vs tamoxifen for regression of mastalgia: A randomized controlled trial.Int J Surg.2015;15:11-16. doi:10.1016/j.ijsu.2014.12.033
PennState Health News.The Medical Minute: Could that breast pain be cancer? When to get a mammogram.
Groen JW, Grosfeld S, Wilschut JA, Bramer WM, Ernst MF, Mullender MM.Cyclic and non-cyclic breast pain: A systematic review on pain reduction, side effects, and quality of life for various treatments.Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol.2017;219:74-93. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2017.10.018Scur J, Hedger W, Morris P, and Brown N.The prevalence, severity, and impact of breast pain in the general population.Breast J. 2014;20(5):508-513. doi:10.1111/tbj.12305Yıldırım AC, Yıldız P, Yıldız M, Kahramanca Ş, Kargıcı H.Mastalgia-cancer relationship: A prospective study.J Breast Health. 2015;11(2):88-91. doi:10.5152/tjbh.2015.2492
Groen JW, Grosfeld S, Wilschut JA, Bramer WM, Ernst MF, Mullender MM.Cyclic and non-cyclic breast pain: A systematic review on pain reduction, side effects, and quality of life for various treatments.Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol.2017;219:74-93. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2017.10.018
Scur J, Hedger W, Morris P, and Brown N.The prevalence, severity, and impact of breast pain in the general population.Breast J. 2014;20(5):508-513. doi:10.1111/tbj.12305
Yıldırım AC, Yıldız P, Yıldız M, Kahramanca Ş, Kargıcı H.Mastalgia-cancer relationship: A prospective study.J Breast Health. 2015;11(2):88-91. doi:10.5152/tjbh.2015.2492
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
