--- title: What behaviors and factors are linked to breast pain during the menstrual cycle? description: Smoking, caffeine consumption, and stress are each associated with more breast pain. Birth control pills are associated with less breast pain and PMS. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/cyclical-mastalgia-prevalence-and-associated-health-and-behavioral-factors-2001/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - What behaviors and factors are linked to breast pain during the menstrual cycle? Survey study, 2001 # What behaviors and factors are linked to breast pain during the menstrual cycle? Smoking, caffeine consumption, and stress are each associated with more breast pain. Birth control pills are associated with less breast pain and PMS. Moderate study design 874 women aged 18-44 in Virginia, USA ## What they did Cross-sectional study using random phone interviews throughout Virginia. Researchers contacted 874 women aged 18-44 and asked about breast pain, smoking, caffeine use, stress, and contraceptive use. ## What they found 68% of women experienced cyclical breast symptoms, and 22% experienced moderate to extreme discomfort. Smoking, caffeine, and stress were associated with more pain (odds ratios of 1.52, 1.53, and 1.7 respectively). Hormonal contraceptive use was linked to significantly less mastalgia and PMS. Young women under 35 with breast pain were more likely to have had mammograms (20.2%) than those without breast pain (9.9%). Most women with breast pain (77.5%) did not have PMS. ## What it means for you Lifestyle factors like smoking and caffeine may make cyclical breast pain worse. The study is from one US state and cannot prove these factors cause the pain. It shows that breast pain and PMS are usually separate problems. 22% experienced moderate to extreme breast pain 68% experienced some cyclical breast symptoms 1.52 odds ratio for smoking and breast pain ## About the study Original title Cyclical mastalgia: prevalence and associated health and behavioral factors Authors Ader DN, South-Paul J, Adera T et al. Journal Journal of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology Year 2001 Study design Survey study Participants 874 What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.3109/01674820109049956](https://doi.org/10.3109/01674820109049956) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Bloating, breast tenderness and physical symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-physical-symptoms/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Survey study, 2025 Do menstrual problems and poor sleep affect mood and thinking in teenage girls? Survey study, 2024 What factors are linked to PMS in school-age girls? Survey study, 2022 What diet, stress, and lifestyle factors are linked to PMS symptoms? Case-control study, 1991 How common are premenstrual symptoms in teenage girls, and what factors affect them? Study, 1976 Do mood and body changes happen at the same time in the menstrual cycle? Survey study, 2026 What factors are linked to PMS in teenagers? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗