Doctors Note Logo

Published on: 7/4/2025

How can I differentiate between breast tenderness before a period and early pregnancy symptoms?

Breast tenderness before a period and during early pregnancy can feel similar, but they may have different causes related to hormonal changes.

answer background

Explanation

Breast tenderness can happen both before a period and in early pregnancy, and it is due to changes in hormones.

Before a Period:

  • According to the British Medical Journal, premenstrual symptoms like breast tenderness occur due to hormonal changes in the ovarian cycle.
  • These changes can make the breasts feel sore or heavy as the body prepares for a potential pregnancy.

Early Pregnancy:

  • During early pregnancy, the breast tissue starts to change to get ready for feeding a baby. This can make the breasts feel tender, as noted in the Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology.
  • The tenderness in early pregnancy is often due to increased blood flow and changes in breast tissue.

In both cases, hormones are at play, but the specific changes and their purposes differ. If you are unsure whether your symptoms are related to a period or pregnancy, a pregnancy test can provide more clarity.

Tell your friends about us.

We would love to help them too.

smily Shiba-inu looking

For First Time Users

What is Ubie’s Doctor’s Note?

We provide a database of explanations from real doctors on a range of medical topics. Get started by exploring our library of questions and topics you want to learn more about.

Learn more about symptoms

Sensitive nipples

Was this page helpful?

Purpose and positioning of servicesUbie Doctor's Note is a service for informational purposes. The provision of information by physicians, medical professionals, etc. is not a medical treatment. If medical treatment is required, please consult your doctor or medical institution. We strive to provide reliable and accurate information, but we do not guarantee the completeness of the content. If you find any errors in the information, please contact us.