Breast Pain in One Breast

One of the most common women problems is breast pain. One can suffer from mild to severe breast pain. Breast pain can be felt in either one or both breasts. In the following paragraphs we shall discuss more about causes of breast pain in one breast.

Classification of Breast Pain in One Breast

Breast pain or mastalgia is mostly described as a chronic tenderness, sharp pain, burning or tightness in the breast tissues. Breast pain can be felt constantly or may be felt occasionally. Breast pain are basically classified into two types: cyclic and non cyclic. Let us have a look at both the types in short.

Cyclic Breast Pain
75% of women suffer from cyclic breast pain. This type of breast pain is related to the menstrual cycle, hormonal levels and stress in women. Cyclic breast pain is generally heavy, aching or dull breast pain in both breasts.

Noncyclic Breast Pain
The less common type of breast pain that is not related to menstrual cycle is noncyclic breast pain. Women with this type of pain generally complain of sharp breast pain in one breast. Noncyclic is generally burning and sharp pain.

Causes

Causes of breast pain in one breast is usually due to trauma or injury to the breast. Women who undergo biopsy of the breast also suffer from sharp breast pain. Most of the time causes of breast pain in one breast is unknown.

Breast pain during pregnancy is often due to nonlactational mastitis. This is a breast infection that occurs during pregnancy along with fever and flu like symptoms. Breast pain while breastfeeding is due to a plugged milk duct. This causes milk flow to be blocked within your breast. Till the plug is not loosened, it will continue to pain while nursing the baby.

Other causes include formation of cysts. This means fluid filled sacs are formed in your breast tissue that results in redness, swelling and breast pain. Noncyclic breast pain may also occur due to pain originating outside the breast. This means pain in chest, muscles, rib joints and heart may radiate to the breast causing pain in one breast. Many times, women with large breasts also suffer from breast discomfort as well as neck pain, shoulder pain and/or back pain.

Treatment

Most of the time, breast pain tends to subside on its own. Only 15% of all breast pain requires specific treatment. However, it is always better to get yourself examined by a doctor to eliminate any doubts related to tumors or breast cancer. Some of the treatments include use of topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication. The doctor may advice change in oral contraceptive doses. In case of benign or malignant breast tumor, one may have to undergo mammography or biopsy. Breast infections are treated with medications. Sometimes, change in bra size or wearing a bra with extra support also helps in alleviating the pain.

Women who develop breast pain often fear it is a sign of breast cancer. However, it has been seen less than 1 in 10 women with breast cancer develop breast pain as a primary symptom. Breast pain indicates breast cancer, if accompanied by other symptoms like abnormal discharge from nipples, lump in your breast, etc. If you are worried about the breast pain, speak to your doctor for advice. It is always better to be safe than sorry.