Mastalgia (breast pain)
Disease Information
Treatment & Care
How is cyclical breast pain treated?
There are a number of different ways to treat cyclical breast pain.
Here are a few that your doctor may recommend:
- Caffeine avoidance
- Vitamin E
- Evening primrose oil (a naturally occurring triglyceride)
- A low-fat
In some cases, your doctor may prescribe some of the following supplemental hormones and hormone blockers:
- Birth control pills
- Bromocriptin (which blocks prolactin in the hypothalamus)
- Danazol, a male hormone
- Thyroid hormones
- Tamoxifen., an estrogen blocker
How is noncyclical breast pain treated?
Determining the appropriate treatment for noncyclical breast pain is more difficult, not only because it is hard to pinpoint where the pain is coming from, but also because the pain is not hormonal.
Your doctor will probably perform a physical examination and may order a mammogram.
In some cases, a biopsy of the area is also necessary. If it is determined that the pain is caused by a cyst, the cyst will be aspirated. Depending on where the pain originates, treatment may include analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and compresses.
