Pain in the mammary glands is referred to as "mastalgia". In he althy women, discomfort appears as a result of the influence of physiological factors. It occurs before critical days, during the release of a mature gamete. During this period, many are disturbed by unpleasant sensations. But, if nipples hurt after menstruation, you should pay attention to your he alth.
A normal process or a sign of pathology?
The female reproductive system is designed in such a way that at certain periods it undergoes changes necessary for conception and pregnancy. Preparation for possible fertilization and gestation of the embryo consists in increasing the size of the internal cavity of the uterus, expanding the ducts of the chest. These processes are caused by hormones that the body of the fairer sex produces. Before the onset of critical days, such phenomena occur in all women. They are accompanied by discomfort in the mammary glands. However, if afternipples hurt during menstruation, serious pathologies are often the cause of malaise.
Mastodynia, which has a cyclical nature
This is a disease in which the patient experiences discomfort in the region of the mammary glands. As a rule, this condition is due to hormonal imbalance. However, other factors can also trigger it. These are multiple interruptions of the pregnancy process, surgical interventions, depression, emotional overstrain, inflammatory pathologies, and injuries.
Signs of mastodynia include:
- Feeling of heaviness in the area of the mammary glands.
- Increasing the size of these organs.
- The presence of discomfort, which has a pulling character.
- Increased nipple sensitivity.
- Pain when touched.
Mastodynia is usually a bilateral pathological process. In this condition, discomfort becomes especially pronounced during critical days. In addition, after menstruation, the nipples hurt, the mammary glands become swollen. Patients notice increased nervousness, irritability.
Possible causes of discomfort
Before critical days, chest discomfort is a normal condition. It is due to the preparation of the body for fertilization. This process is explained by the production of certain substances. If conception does not occur, the pain in the mammary glands disappears on its own. However, hormonal balance can also change for reasons unrelated topreparation for fertilization. This condition is observed in adolescent girls and women of mature age. However, if after menstruation the nipples began to hurt, other circumstances are not excluded, for example:
- The onset of conception.
- Benign neoplasms (nodules, cysts).
- Inflammatory process in the mammary glands.
- Mechanical damage.
- Malignant neoplasms.
It is possible to accurately determine the cause of discomfort only after contacting a doctor and performing diagnostic procedures.
Natural changes in hormone balance
During menopause, women experience pain in the chest area. This phenomenon is due to the transformation of glandular tissue into connective and adipose tissue. In addition, during this period, the representatives of the weaker sex notice in themselves:
- Failures in the cycle of menstruation.
- Feeling hot, sweating profusely.
- Frequent changes in blood pressure.
- Speed up heart rate.
- Permanent feeling of tiredness.
Changes in the balance of hormones are also characteristic of puberty. At this time, adolescents are becoming a cycle. Critical days are irregular. In patients of transitional age, nipples often hurt after menstruation. This is the norm. After the cycle stabilizes, this symptom goes away on its own.
Use of medications containing hormones
The use of such contraceptives provokes discomfort and swelling in the area of the mammary glands.
In addition, some women have a spotting discharge mixed with blood, discomfort in the lower part of the peritoneum. The use of hormones is one of the likely answers to the question: “Why do nipples hurt after menstruation?” Approximately 14 days after the start of taking such pills, the girl's body adapts to them, and the discomfort disappears.
Fertilization Completed
After conception, a woman may experience discharge similar to menstruation. However, they are short-term, scarce, have a dark brown color. A few days after fertilization, changes in the structure of the mammary glands begin. They swell, increase in volume, which is associated with increased blood circulation in the tissues. Not knowing about the conception that took place, the woman believes that after menstruation her breasts and nipples hurt for other reasons. If you suspect pregnancy, you should pay attention not only to this symptom, but also to other signs:
- Discomfort in the lower part of the abdomen, which is accompanied by a small discharge of a brown tint.
- Dark skin tone around the nipples.
- Feeling sick.
- Fatigue.
- Frequent change of emotional background.
- Delay of next critical days.
To determine the cause of these symptoms, a woman needs to take a pregnancy test.
Benign neoplasms
This pathology is called mastopathy. In patients with such an ailment after menstruationsore nipples. The disease develops as a result of an imbalance of hormones and proceeds in two stages:
- Diffuse pathology. A woman is worried about discomfort before critical days. In the mammary glands, seals are found that are small in size. They are located at the top of the organs.
- Mastopathy with knot formation. The disease is accompanied by pronounced discomfort. Pain does not disappear after the end of critical days. A colorless liquid may come out of the nipples.
Mastopathy is a common pathology. It is diagnosed in 60% of the fair sex from 18 to 45 years. Contrary to popular belief, the disease is serious and requires timely treatment. Therefore, if there are signs of it, you should consult a doctor and undergo a diagnosis.
Acute inflammatory process
If a woman's nipples are very sore, mastitis may be the cause. Pathology develops under the influence of various microbes. They penetrate into the tissues of the gland through the blood or lymph fluid when infections occur in other organs. As a rule, mastitis occurs during lactation.
He appears for the following reasons:
- Exposure to cold temperatures.
- Cracks in the nipple area.
- Infectious process in the uterus.
- Incomplete expression of milk.
- Poor hygiene.
When inflammation occurs in the area of the gland, it becomes very hot. There is a red tint of tissues, swelling, discomfortat the bottom of the peritoneum. A dark green liquid flows from the nipple. The woman has a fever. As a rule, the inflammatory process affects only one gland.
Malignant tumors of the breast
This condition is considered the most dangerous.
In the case when, after the cessation of critical days, the nipples hurt for a week, cancer can be suspected if the following symptoms are present:
- Change in the skin. They become darker or turn red. On the surface of the glands, areas resembling a lemon peel appear.
- Change in the structure of breast tissues.
- Retraction in the nipple area.
- Discharge, sometimes mixed with blood.
- The presence of seals, an increase in the volume of lymph nodes under the arms.
Malignant neoplasms of the breast are common and take the lives of a large number of women. However, in the early stages, the disease is treatable. Timely access to a specialist and adequate therapy will help the patient overcome the disease.
Mechanical damage
Discomfort in the region of the mammary glands is often provoked by injuries of a different nature (bruises, blows, squeezing). They can happen during hard sexual contact, while wearing uncomfortable underwear. Can nipples hurt after menstruation due to an incorrectly chosen bra? The answer to this question is definitely yes. Synthetic materials, too small size contribute to irritation of the skin, disruption of the supply of blood to the glands. Therefore it shouldwear things made from natural and undyed fabrics. In addition, during hygiene procedures it is not recommended to use shower gels or other products containing alcohol. This will avoid negative reactions of the body and discomfort.
Other factors causing discomfort
There are several other reasons that cause pain in the area of the mammary glands. These include:
- Changes in climatic conditions. This is especially true of situations where women living in the north leave for the purpose of recreation in the south. If they use an airplane as a vehicle, the likelihood of hormonal failure increases. Changing time zones causes a delay in critical days and discomfort in the chest area.
- A sharp decrease in body weight, a set of excess kilograms, metabolic disorders.
- Emotional overstrain.
- Irregular intimate contact.
- Pathologies of the vertebral discs.
- Diseases of the gonads.
- Disruptions in the endocrine system.
- Inflammation in the lymph nodes.
- Shingles
Diagnostic measures
If a woman has sore nipples a week after menstruation, and this situation repeats for several cycles, she should consult a doctor to identify the cause of the pathology.
Examination includes:
- Mammography.
- Assessment of breast conditionusing ultrasound.
- Biopsy.
- X-ray of gland ducts.
- Research on the nature of the cysts.
Therapy is prescribed by the doctor depending on the results of the indicated procedures.
Treatment
If the cause of sore nipples is a serious pathology, then only a specialist can prescribe therapy, depending on the nature of the course of the disease. After all, it is important here not to eliminate the pain, but to treat the cause that led to such a symptom. Mechanical damage and physiological discomfort can be eliminated with ointments such as Bepanthen or Mustela.
