Review, 2005
What causes breast pain and how is it treated?
Breast pain affects up to 2 out of 3 women and can be associated with PMS. It is usually benign, and most women do not need treatment.
What they did
Review article examining causes and management of mastalgia (breast pain) and its association with conditions including PMS.
What they found
Mastalgia affects up to 2 out of 3 women during their reproductive lives. It is usually benign but causes worry about cancer. It can be associated with PMS, fibrocystic breast disease, and psychological disturbance. About 15% of women require pain-relieving therapy. First-line treatments include mechanical breast support, low-fat high-carbohydrate diet, and topical NSAIDs. Hormonal treatments are effective but have side effects. 60% of cyclic mastalgia recurs after treatment.
What it means for you
Breast pain is common in women of reproductive age and often associated with PMS, but most cases are benign and do not require medication. Several treatment options exist for the minority of women who need pain relief.
2 out of 3
Proportion of women affected by breast pain
15%
Percentage requiring pain-relieving therapy
60%
Percentage of cyclic breast pain that recurs after treatment
About the study
- Original title
- Mastalgia: a review of management
- Authors
- Olawaiye A, Withiam-Leitch M, Danakas G et al.
- Journal
- The Journal of reproductive medicine
- Year
- 2005
- Study design
- Review
- What was tested
- Mechanical support, dietary changes, topical NSAIDs, hormonal medications
- Read the paper
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16444894/
Topics
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