Breast Pain
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Breast tenderness
Left breast pain
Pain in right breast
Breasts hurt when pressed
Pain when pressing on the breast
Pain in left breast
Right breast pain
Pain in breast
Mastalgia
Breast pain related to the menstrual cycle
Breast pain not related to the menstrual cycle
Tightness in the breast tissue
About the Symptom
Breast pain can be described as tenderness, throbbing, sharp, stabbing, burning pain or tightness in the breast tissue. It is almost always benign (not cancer) and related to changes in hormone levels. Breast pain that occurs with the menstrual cycle and then goes away is very common and does not need to be evaluated by a physician. Breast pain can be scary and worrisome to patients but most of the time goes away in a few weeks. Breast pain that persists beyond a few weeks should be evaluated by a physician.
Possible Causes
Generally, Breast pain can be related to:
- Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is a malignancy that arises in the breasts of men or women. It can arise from ducts or lobules. Patients either find a lump or have an abnormal mammogram. Risk factors include being female, having breasts, have a genetic predisposition (eg a gene you inherit from a parent), family history of breast or ovarian cancer, getting older, personal history of breast biopsies, dense breasts on mammography, or ovarian cancer, alcohol, and obesity. Protective factors include pregnancy, especially at a younger age, weight maintenance especially after menopause, and exercise.
- Transverse Myelitis
Transverse myelitis is an inflammation of both sides of one section of the spinal cord. There is often damage to the covering of nerve cell fibers (myelin), which interrupts the messages from the spinal cord nerves to the rest of the body. Causes include infections and immune system disorders that attack the body's tissues.
- Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
PMS refers to physical or mood changes that occur shortly before menstruation and typically resolve a few days after. PMS symptoms generally recur with each menstrual cycle and can negatively affect the women's normal life. PMS consists of both mental and physical symptoms, occurring 3-10 days before menstruation. Symptoms start to improve once menstruation begins. The cause of PMS is poorly understood, but is related to fluctuations in levels of female hormones. PMS can worsen underlying mood disorders such as anxiety and depression.
- Mastitis
- Mondor's Disease
- Mastopathy
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Do you have breast pain?
- Does pressing on your breast cause pain?
Reviewed By:
Alice Police, MD (Breast Surgery)
Breast Surgeon of 30 years experience. Recent Chief of breast surgery at UCIrvine Medical Center, Northwell Health in New York State, Chief of breast surgery at Monument Health in Rapid City South Dakota. Breast Cancer Researcher in conjunction with multiple studies through Notre Dame department of electrical engineering. CMO of Nearwave, a start up breast cancer device company.
Yoshinori Abe, MD (Internal Medicine)
Dr. Abe graduated from The University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency at the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Longevity Medical Center. He co-founded Ubie, Inc. in May 2017, where he currently serves as CEO & product owner at Ubie. Since December 2019, he has been a member of the Special Committee for Activation of Research in Emergency AI of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. | | Dr. Abe has been elected in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Healthcare & Science category.
Content updated on Dec 5, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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- It hurts when I press on my breast
- Right breast hurts
- Breast tenderness on palpation
- Left breast hurts
- Tender breast/breasts
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FAQs
Q.
Naproxen for Women 30-45: Relief Guide & Essential Next Steps
A.
Naproxen can provide effective relief for women ages 30 to 45 from menstrual cramps, breast tenderness, headaches or migraines, back and muscle strains, and joint pain, especially when started early and taken with food at the lowest effective dose. There are several factors to consider, including risks to the stomach, kidneys, blood pressure and heart, interactions with other NSAIDs or blood thinners, and special considerations for pregnancy, trying to conceive, and breastfeeding; know when persistent, focal, or severe symptoms require medical care or urgent evaluation, and see the complete guidance below to choose the right next steps.
References:
* Marjoribanks J, et al. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for heavy menstrual bleeding. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022 Jan 31;1(1):CD000176. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD000176.pub3. PMID: 35099309.
* ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 199: Clinical Management of Dysmenorrhea and Endometriosis. Obstet Gynecol. 2018 Oct;132(4):e124-e137. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000002848. PMID: 30248824.
* Kirthi V, et al. Oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for acute migraine. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Apr 18;4(4):CD008783. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008783.pub2. PMID: 28419092.
* Bally M, et al. Cardiovascular safety of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. 2017 May 27;389(10085):2292-2303. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)30903-9. PMID: 28495034.
* Smolinski M, et al. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) - review of current knowledge about the mechanisms of action and adverse effects. Pol Arch Intern Med. 2021 Jul 26;131(7-8):699-709. doi: 10.20452/pamw.16008. PMID: 34227914.
Q.
Pain in Your Left Breast? Before You Panic, Check These 3 Non-Cancerous Causes
A.
There are several non-cancerous causes to consider. Most left breast pain stems from breast tissue pain due to hormones, posture, or poor support, hormonal cysts that fluctuate with your cycle, or caffeine sensitivity, and breast pain alone is rarely cancer. If you notice a new hard lump, skin or nipple changes, fever, or chest pressure with shortness of breath, seek prompt care, and see below for practical relief steps, how to track patterns, and exactly when to call a doctor.
References:
* Sroka K, Marzouk A, El-Hussuna A, Lykke M, Jørgensen LB. Breast pain: a focused review of diagnosis and management. BJS Open. 2021 Oct 2;5(5):zrab104. doi: 10.1093/bjsopen/zrab104. PMID: 34509503; PMCID: PMC8486016.
* Al-Fahad S, Kurban L, Jha P, Bazzaz A. Noncyclical Mastalgia: Clinical Characteristics and Etiological Factors. Cureus. 2023 Feb 1;15(2):e34505. doi: 10.7759/cureus.34505. PMID: 36873105; PMCID: PMC9983411.
* Stubbs DJ, Zardas A, Phelan MW. Musculoskeletal causes of chest pain. Cleve Clin J Med. 2020 Nov 2;87(11):677-683. doi: 10.3949/ccjm.87a.20050. PMID: 33261644.
* O'Hara RE, Niewiadomska M, Khan S. Benign breast disease: diagnosis and management. Ulster Med J. 2022 Jan;91(1):4-11. PMID: 35150935; PMCID: PMC8822986.
* Polat C, Aydin O, Özkutlu F, Parlak Ö, Gültekin M. Diagnosis and management of nonpuerperal mastitis. J Surg Oncol. 2021 Apr;123(5):1179-1189. doi: 10.1002/jso.26388. Epub 2021 Jan 25. PMID: 33767223.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Sivarajah R, et al. A review of breast pain: Causes, imaging recommendations, and treatment. Journal of Breast Imaging. 2020; doi:10.1093/jbi/wbz082.
https://academic.oup.com/jbi/article/2/2/101/5698273