Mastalgia (breast pain)
Disease Information
In-Depth
What is cyclical breast pain?
The most common type of breast pain is associated with the menstrual cycle. It’s nearly always hormonal. Some women begin to have pain around the time of ovulation, which continues until the beginning of their menstrual cycle.
The pain can either be barely noticeable or so severe that the woman cannot wear tight-fitting clothing or tolerate close contact of any kind. The pain may be felt in only one breast or may be felt as a radiating sensation in the under-arm region.
What is noncyclical breast pain?
Noncyclical breast pain is fairly uncommon, feels different than cyclical mastalgia, and does not vary with the menstrual cycle. Generally, the pain is present all the time and is in only one specific location.
