The female body is a complex system in which everything is interconnected. The monthly cycle is a consequence of the alternate production of different hormones, which lead to various changes. Mood swings, skin and hair condition, sexual desire, all this is the body's response to the activity of the endocrine glands.
Separately, it is worth mentioning about the female breast. This is a very sensitive organ that responds to the release of hormones and changes along with metabolism. Therefore, age-related features, diets and stresses, pregnancy and other events significant for the body do not pass by it. The physiological response may be darkening of the nipples, as well as an increase in their sensitivity. In most cases, this is not evidence of a disease. Today we’ll talk about why nipples may darken and whether something needs to be done about it.
Natural cycle
If the nipples darken just before the onset of menstruation, this is due to changes in the hormonal background. It's not dangerous at all. With the onset of menstruation, the nipples will become less sensitive, returning to their normal state. These are not the only symptoms. At this time, the breasts usually increase in size, becomepainful. However, all this is very individual. Someone complains that walking without a bra becomes uncomfortable even at night. Others, on the contrary, do not feel any changes. Symptoms of PMS are very individual, for some it is a real torment, and for others it is a completely imperceptible phenomenon.
Different periods of the month
The second phase of the cycle is usually marked by soreness and swelling of the breast. The reason lies in the increased concentration of progesterone, which leads to such symptoms. Similar processes occur in the epithelial layer of the uterus. If the nipples have darkened, then this may be an individual reaction to hormonal changes. They usually return to normal within a few days. The maximum discomfort occurs on the 7th day of the second phase of the cycle.
The second moment that women celebrate is ovulation. At this time, estrogen is released, which also leads to a number of necessary changes. In particular, the egg matures and exits into the fallopian tubes, where it can meet with the sperm. Usually the reaction of the breast to ovulation is not noticeable, but some women claim that their nipples have darkened. This can also be attributed to individual changes in the body.
The third stage, as a rule, comes in the middle of the cycle. It is characterized by a decrease in estrogen levels. Small nipples most often increase during this period. At the same time, the tension in the chest increases. These are completely physiological symptoms that do not indicate the presence of any pathology. If there is tension in the chest, enlargement and darkening of the nipples are observedregularly, at about the same time, then this is considered a normal reaction of your body.
What to do to relieve the condition?
Experts recommend reducing your s alt intake a week before your period starts. This will ease the symptoms of PMS. When the next peak is approaching, give up lace lingerie with bones. It is better to take a sports bra. For severe pain, you can take aspirin or ibuprofen. Doctors recommend diuretics - parsley or celery, green tea. If there is no improvement in the next few days, then do not delay any further, consult a doctor and undergo an examination.
Nipple discharge
This is normal, not only during pregnancy. Before menstruation, many women note that small crusts appear on the nipple. If discharge appears, then you need to wash your chest more often with warm water, while trying not to injure it much. Sometimes peeling and dryness of the nipples may occur, which is also not a pathology. This can be easily de alt with in safe ways. You can use creams for stretch marks or sea buckthorn oil.
You should be alarmed in cases where the temperature rises sharply, and the nipples not only darken, but also begin to bleed. Constant pain in the nipples or its concentration in one breast are suspicious symptoms that require the intervention of a doctor.
Changes in puberty
This is the first stage when the body of a young girlchange. Suddenly the nipples become very painful, they swell slightly and rise. Most girls note that during this period, even a light touch causes severe pain. At this time, it is worth starting to wear special underwear, which will reduce the contact of swollen nipples with clothes.
Changes during pregnancy
Quite often, you can determine your new interesting position not by a delay in menstruation, but by a change in the sensitivity of the breast. Here, too, every woman is different. Some say that long before the delay, they felt that their breasts began to increase. Other patients attribute this to yesterday's cakes and weight gain, but in any case, such drastic changes should alert. Often, experienced women have an alarming thought: “Nipples have darkened, are you really pregnant?”. In order to find the exact answer to this question, you can take a test in a pharmacy or go for a consultation with a gynecologist.
But this is only the first news. Very soon, the woman notices that the nipples have darkened. Once tender and pink, they not only change color, but also become rough. Moreover, it is easier to determine this by sight, but it is very difficult to feel them during this period. Sensitivity increases so much that it can even turn into pain. Let's look at what happens to a woman's nipples, what anatomical changes lead to such consequences.
Physiological characteristics
From the first days when a fertilized egg takes its place in the uterus,the body begins to actively produce an important hormone - prolactin. It is he who is responsible for the preservation and further course of pregnancy. A woman's nipples at this time increase significantly in size, as does the breast itself.
Prolactin is needed to ensure successful lactation in the future. Despite the fact that your baby is still only a few millimeters in size, the body knows very well that there is not much time. Therefore, hormones cause the breast tissue to change, starting from the first days of pregnancy.
The blood begins to circulate actively, as a result of which the areola quickly increases. Even small nipples become larger. Why does a woman feel pain? Because the areola and nipples begin to grow rapidly. The skin does not keep up with them, and therefore there is a feeling of tension and discomfort. To weaken it, it is recommended to lubricate the chest with a special cream from the first days. And when the pain recedes slightly, you need to start rubbing your chest daily with a towel. This will prevent future cracking of the nipples during breastfeeding. This is normal and nothing to worry about.
Rapid change
Nipple size continues to change rapidly. Of course, much depends on physiological characteristics. For some, the areola becomes only slightly larger, while for others it stretches like a saucer. Sometimes women worry that they will remain so. No, this is temporary. After the end of feeding, they will gradually lighten up. True, some note that the size of the nipple afterpregnancy has not changed.
The main reason why small nipples get bigger is the overgrowth of the lactiferous excretory ducts. This process occurs because the newborn should be able to easily and comfortably capture the breast from the first minutes of his life. And why do the nipples become dark? There is another mechanism at work here. Color change occurs due to the active work of melanin - a pigment that is produced under the influence of sex hormones. This is also normal and does not require correction. Most often, very dark nipples are also naturally swarthy women. Natural blondes and women with delicate, very fair skin say that they have become more reddish.
Change continues
We looked at how nipples change during pregnancy. It remains to add only that the increase in soreness will continue until the third trimester. Now you may notice that a clear liquid is leaking from the nipples. This suggests that the body is seriously tuned in to the appearance of the baby and his breastfeeding. It is not necessary to specifically squeeze it out, as this can provoke uterine contractions and lead to premature birth.
Another change is the appearance of small pimples near the nipples. This may excite a young woman, but, in fact, nothing terrible is happening. Painful nipples are enlarged, and glands that have been hidden until now are now peeking out. It won't be long before they disappear without a trace again.
Diseases and pathologies
Mammary glands respond to any changes that occur in a woman's body. Therefore, if the breast has increased, the nipples have darkened, but there is no pregnancy, then it is necessary to look for another reason. This may be a sign of some diseases. Let's list the main ones:
- Polycystic ovaries. This disease causes an increase in estrogen production. As a result, the breast becomes painful, sensitive. The disease is diagnosed by the attending gynecologist.
- Uterine fibroids. This is not just a benign tumor, but a complex disease that significantly changes hormonal metabolism.
- Endometriosis. With this disease, the nipples of the mammary glands also become more sensitive.
Systemic hormonal diseases
Our body reacts to any changes in the secretion produced by the endocrine glands. And the body will respond to any violations with a change in the tissues of the breast. Therefore, if the nipples are enlarged and darkened, this may be a symptom of pathology. If you suspect this, you should definitely visit a mammologist. It is especially important to seek help if there are other symptoms, such as changes in the shape of the breast, retraction of the nipple, or redness.
Inflammatory diseases
This is a fairly large group of pathologies, which is primarily characterized by redness and fever, darkening and engorgement of the nipples. Often there are discharges. Necessarilycarefully examine and tell the doctor about the nature of these discharges. If they contain blood, then we should talk about the pathology of the ducts of the mammary glands. It could be an intraductal papilloma or something more serious. Pay attention to the appearance of the nipples. If they have lost their shape and seemed to be pulled inward, this may indicate the development of oncology. In any case, if you consult a doctor, it will not get worse.
Prevention
The statistics are relentless. Today, every third woman seeks help in connection with suspected breast tumors. In most of them, the diagnosis is confirmed. Fortunately, benign tumors that do not pose a danger to life and he alth are much more common. But they can be reborn and lead to oncology. In this case, a change in breast sensitivity may be the first symptom that will lead to a doctor in time.
The best prevention is a timely appeal to a qualified specialist. Even if nothing bothers you, you need to visit a doctor regularly. A he althy lifestyle, regular self-examination and consultation with a mammologist is the best way to avoid complications. Women over 40 should pay special attention to their breasts. It is at this age that the risk of developing hormonal diseases increases.
What not to do?
It is not uncommon for women to put off going to the doctor. And since unpleasant and painful sensations persist, they use improvised means to eliminate them. These can be painkillers or antibiotics. Often, medicinal herbs, tinctures and lotions are used. In fact, it is impossible to cure an unknown pathology with such methods. So take the time to visit the clinic.
If you are sure that the cause is not ovulation or pregnancy, then you need to undergo an additional ultrasound or mammography. Important information is provided by a blood test for hormone levels. After the examination, the doctor will make a decision and prescribe treatment.
Instead of a conclusion
As you can see, the darkening and enlargement of the nipples does not always indicate that a woman is pregnant. There are a number of other reasons to consider. It is no secret that it is possible to diagnose pregnancy using a test with high reliability and a minimum of costs. You don't even need to go to the doctor for this. In addition, every woman knows that every month she is haunted by the same sensations, including breast hypersensitivity. It is a completely different matter if you first see that the nipples have darkened and began to hurt. Excluding pregnancy, you need to look for the likelihood of developing inflammatory or tumor processes.
